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Exit polls point to landslide vote to relax Irish abortion laws Exit polls point to landslide vote to relax Irish abortion laws
(35 minutes later)
Ireland has voted by a landslide to lift the ban on abortion that had been enshrined in its constitution for three decades, the first exit polls from a historic referendum suggest.Ireland has voted by a landslide to lift the ban on abortion that had been enshrined in its constitution for three decades, the first exit polls from a historic referendum suggest.
If confirmed at Saturday’s count, the shock result – three years after Ireland became the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote – would underline the speed and scale of change in a country that is still majority Catholic.If confirmed at Saturday’s count, the shock result – three years after Ireland became the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote – would underline the speed and scale of change in a country that is still majority Catholic.
Exit polls from the Irish Times and the national broadcaster RTÉ showed a clear two-thirds of the country supported change. Dublin, as expected, had voted overwhelmingly to end the abortion ban, but so too did rural areas that anti-abortion activists had counted on to form a bulwark of conservative support for the restrictive status quo.Exit polls from the Irish Times and the national broadcaster RTÉ showed a clear two-thirds of the country supported change. Dublin, as expected, had voted overwhelmingly to end the abortion ban, but so too did rural areas that anti-abortion activists had counted on to form a bulwark of conservative support for the restrictive status quo.
The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll late on Friday suggested a 68% to 32% vote in favour of yes. The RTE exit poll of 3,000 voters suggested that 69.4% voted yes in the referendum compared to 30.6% who said no.The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll late on Friday suggested a 68% to 32% vote in favour of yes. The RTE exit poll of 3,000 voters suggested that 69.4% voted yes in the referendum compared to 30.6% who said no.
Ireland is set to vote on abortion law reform on Friday 25 May. In a the referendum, voters will decide if they want to repeal an article in the republic’s constitution known as the eighth amendment.  Good weather and strong feelings about the subject contributed to a high turnout across the country. The Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, who supported the change and called the referendum a once-in-a-generation chance, said earlier on Friday that he was quietly confident that the high turnout was a good sign.
The amendment, or article 40.3.3 of the constitution, gives unborn foetuses and pregnant mothers an equal right to life – and is, in effect, a ban on abortion. Currently, terminations are allowed only when the life of the mother is at risk, with a penalty of up to 14 years in prison for breaking the law. 
The government in Dublin has promised to introduce legislation allowing for abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if the vote goes in favour of repeal.
Good weather and strong feelings about the subject contributed to a high turnout across the country.
The province of Leinster outside Dublin was predicted to have voted at about 66% in favour of repeal, while Connacht-Ulster in the west was projected to be in favour of change by 59% to 41%.The province of Leinster outside Dublin was predicted to have voted at about 66% in favour of repeal, while Connacht-Ulster in the west was projected to be in favour of change by 59% to 41%.
The region includes Roscommon, the only county to have voted no to the marriage equality referendum in 2015.The region includes Roscommon, the only county to have voted no to the marriage equality referendum in 2015.
Counting opens across the country at 9am on Saturday, with tallies expected to give a confident indication of the result by mid-morning or lunchtime and an official result to follow in the afternoon.Counting opens across the country at 9am on Saturday, with tallies expected to give a confident indication of the result by mid-morning or lunchtime and an official result to follow in the afternoon.
The scale of the projected victory was so big though that leading no campaigners conceded defeat within minutes.The scale of the projected victory was so big though that leading no campaigners conceded defeat within minutes.
“With a result of that magnitude, clearly there was very little to be done,” said John McGuirk media manager with the SaveThe8th campaign. “Thank you to every no voter and campaigner.”“With a result of that magnitude, clearly there was very little to be done,” said John McGuirk media manager with the SaveThe8th campaign. “Thank you to every no voter and campaigner.”
Ireland is set to vote on abortion law reform on Friday 25 May. In a the referendum, voters will decide if they want to repeal an article in the republic’s constitution known as the eighth amendment. 
The amendment, or article 40.3.3 of the constitution, gives unborn foetuses and pregnant mothers an equal right to life – and is, in effect, a ban on abortion. Currently, terminations are allowed only when the life of the mother is at risk, with a penalty of up to 14 years in prison for breaking the law. 
The government in Dublin has promised to introduce legislation allowing for abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if the vote goes in favour of repeal.
Goretti Horgan, a pro-choice campaigner who has worked for abortion rights on both sides of the Irish border, said: “Even if [the exit polls] were 10 percentage points out, it would still be a massive victory for the yes side.”Goretti Horgan, a pro-choice campaigner who has worked for abortion rights on both sides of the Irish border, said: “Even if [the exit polls] were 10 percentage points out, it would still be a massive victory for the yes side.”
Voters were asked if they wished to scrap a 1983 amendment to the constitution that gives an unborn child and its mother equal rights to life. The consequent prohibition on abortion was partly lifted in 2013 for cases where the mother’s life is in danger.Voters were asked if they wished to scrap a 1983 amendment to the constitution that gives an unborn child and its mother equal rights to life. The consequent prohibition on abortion was partly lifted in 2013 for cases where the mother’s life is in danger.
Ireland legalised divorce by a majority of just 9,000 only in 1995, but became the first country to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote in a 2015 referendum.Ireland legalised divorce by a majority of just 9,000 only in 1995, but became the first country to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote in a 2015 referendum.
But no social issue has divided its 4.8 million people as sharply as abortion, which was pushed up the political agenda by the death in 2012 of a 31-year-old Indian immigrant from a septic miscarriage after she was refused a termination.But no social issue has divided its 4.8 million people as sharply as abortion, which was pushed up the political agenda by the death in 2012 of a 31-year-old Indian immigrant from a septic miscarriage after she was refused a termination.
Prominent pro-choice campaigner Ruth Bowie said the poll pointed towards “a result that brings huge relief.”Prominent pro-choice campaigner Ruth Bowie said the poll pointed towards “a result that brings huge relief.”
Bowie was one of the first women to speak out publicly in Ireland about having an abortion in England because her pregnancy was doomed due to fatal foetal abnormality.Bowie was one of the first women to speak out publicly in Ireland about having an abortion in England because her pregnancy was doomed due to fatal foetal abnormality.
The Dublin-born nurse formed part of the Terminations for Medical Reasons Ireland groups, which campaigned for change in the Irish abortion laws.The Dublin-born nurse formed part of the Terminations for Medical Reasons Ireland groups, which campaigned for change in the Irish abortion laws.
“Nobody can ever change the devastation that a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality brings but now Ireland can change the way those couples are treated. For that make the heartbreaking decision to end the pregnancy they will no longer be kicked out of Ireland made to feel like criminals for their choice,” she said.“Nobody can ever change the devastation that a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality brings but now Ireland can change the way those couples are treated. For that make the heartbreaking decision to end the pregnancy they will no longer be kicked out of Ireland made to feel like criminals for their choice,” she said.
Polls had narrowed in the run-up to voting, after an increasingly polarised and acrimonious complaint. Although yes had the lead, the outcome was widely expected to depend on the one-in-six voters who were still undecided before ballots opened.Polls had narrowed in the run-up to voting, after an increasingly polarised and acrimonious complaint. Although yes had the lead, the outcome was widely expected to depend on the one-in-six voters who were still undecided before ballots opened.
Yes campaigners argued that with over 3,000 women travelling to Britain each year for terminations – a right enshrined in a 1992 referendum – and others ordering pills illegally online, abortion was already a reality in Ireland.The Irish government’s push to liberalise the laws is in contrast to the United States, where abortion has long been legal, but the president, Donald Trump, backs stripping federal funding from women’s health care clinics that offer abortions. Yes campaigners argued that with over 3,000 women travelling to Britain each year for terminations – a right enshrined in a 1992 referendum – and others ordering pills illegally online, abortion was already a reality in Ireland.
Ruth Shaw was one of thousands of Irish voters who flew home or stayed home, cancelled holidays or came back early, so they could cast a vote in what they thought could be a razor-thin decision either way. The Irish government’s push to liberalise the laws is in contrast to the United States, where abortion has long been legal, but the president, Donald Trump, backs stripping federal funding from women’s health care clinics that offer abortions.
Along with 20 family and friends she had been due at a wedding in New York, but when the referendum date was set, none of them paused for thought.
“We changed our flights,” she said. “It’s really important; I’ve got two daughters.” So at 6.55am she was waiting with nine-year-old Simi outside Our Lady’s Clonskeagh Parish secondary school, second in line to cast her vote before heading to the airport.
In the end, though, they were part of an unexpected groundswell of support for change. Many in the no camp had hoped they would be boosted on the day by supporters embarrassed into silence.
“So many no voters are shy,” said Fidelma, 45, a Dubliner who said she was wearing a no badge for the first time, in the face of overwhelming social pressure in the capital to support a repeal. “People make us feel like we are backwards and don’t count.”
At the ballot box, ultimately, there were not enough of them to count. Two-thirds of men, and an even higher proportion of women, opted for change, according to the Irish Times.
Among the young in particular the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of ending the ban. Nearly 9 out of 10 voters between 18 and 24 voted ‘yes’, the exit poll found.Among the young in particular the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of ending the ban. Nearly 9 out of 10 voters between 18 and 24 voted ‘yes’, the exit poll found.
Eighteen year-old Riodhna Mackin, voting for the first time along with proud parents, was one of them. “I am a young woman in Ireland, and I would like to have a say over my own body, and for my friends to have the same,” she said after casting her ballot.
The split over abortion, which reflects deep divisions about what kind of country Ireland wants to be as it reassesses its Catholic heritage and becomes more ethnically and religiously diverse, had reached deep into communities and individual families.
“I voted no because I think I regard it as murder. We don’t need abortion in this country,” said Elizabeth McDonald, 58. Her son Stephen, 33, thinks that view is cruel, and puts women’s health in jeopardy.
“I’m her son, and I voted yes,” he said, as they left the voting station together. “Abortions do happen in Ireland, and I’d rather they were in a situation where it was safer for women.”
Some women order abortion pills online and take them at home, risking up to 14 years in prison. As it is not illegal to go abroad for an abortion, about nine women a day travel to England seeking treatment.
Those journeys were the reason Ian Sewell, 26, travelled back from England to cast a ballot for yes, part of a wave of people who travelled from almost every corner of the globe.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think we are voting on whether people can have abortions,” he said. “We are voting on whether poor women can have abortions. Because rich people already travel to England.”
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