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| Irish referendums: Voting closes on family and care constitution changes | Irish referendums: Voting closes on family and care constitution changes |
| (2 months later) | |
| Polls for the twin referendums closed at 22:00 local time on Friday | Polls for the twin referendums closed at 22:00 local time on Friday |
| Polls for the twin referendums closed at 22:00 local time on Friday | |
| Polls have closed in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. | Polls have closed in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. |
| Voters were asked if they wish to expand the definition of family to include those not based around marriages. | Voters were asked if they wish to expand the definition of family to include those not based around marriages. |
| They were asked if they wish to remove a reference to the role of women in the home, and put in one recognising care provided by family members. | They were asked if they wish to remove a reference to the role of women in the home, and put in one recognising care provided by family members. |
| Polls opened at 07:00 local time and closed at 22:00. | Polls opened at 07:00 local time and closed at 22:00. |
| The Irish Electoral Commission said 3.3m polling information cards were delivered, external in advance of polling day. | |
| In order to vote, a person needed to be aged 18 or over, an Irish citizen, registered to vote and ordinarily reside in Ireland. | In order to vote, a person needed to be aged 18 or over, an Irish citizen, registered to vote and ordinarily reside in Ireland. |
| The Irish government announced in December that the referendums would take place on International Women's Day. | The Irish government announced in December that the referendums would take place on International Women's Day. |
| Turnout figures | Turnout figures |
| Turnout across the country is understood to have been low early in the day, with some polling stations quiet. | Turnout across the country is understood to have been low early in the day, with some polling stations quiet. |
| However, voter numbers rose later, with turnout at one polling station in Dublin reaching 46% by 8.30pm, with 50% turnout at some stations in Cork city and parts of County Limerick, according to RTÉ, the national broadcaster. | However, voter numbers rose later, with turnout at one polling station in Dublin reaching 46% by 8.30pm, with 50% turnout at some stations in Cork city and parts of County Limerick, according to RTÉ, the national broadcaster. |
| Polls remained open until 22:00 for most of the country, with earlier closing on some coastal islands. | Polls remained open until 22:00 for most of the country, with earlier closing on some coastal islands. |
| Voting closed at 15:00 on two County Donegal islands, Tory and Gola, with a 37% turnout in the former and 28% in the latter, RTÉ reported. | Voting closed at 15:00 on two County Donegal islands, Tory and Gola, with a 37% turnout in the former and 28% in the latter, RTÉ reported. |
| Counting gets under way at 09:00 on Saturday morning. | Counting gets under way at 09:00 on Saturday morning. |
| What are Irish voters being asked? | What are Irish voters being asked? |
| At the polling stations on Friday, voters were given two ballots - one white and one green. | At the polling stations on Friday, voters were given two ballots - one white and one green. |
| The white ballot asked if voters wanted to accept or reject the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - otherwise known as the family amendment. | The white ballot asked if voters wanted to accept or reject the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - otherwise known as the family amendment. |
| This proposes inserting the words "whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships" into the constitution. | This proposes inserting the words "whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships" into the constitution. |
| The existing protection afforded to families under the constitution, as currently written, only extends to families built around a marriage. | The existing protection afforded to families under the constitution, as currently written, only extends to families built around a marriage. |
| However, if the amendment is passed, different family units would have the same constitutional rights and protections. | However, if the amendment is passed, different family units would have the same constitutional rights and protections. |
| If rejected, the current wording will remain the same. | If rejected, the current wording will remain the same. |
| Voters were also given a green ballot. This referred to the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - or the care amendment. | Voters were also given a green ballot. This referred to the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - or the care amendment. |
| This amendment proposes to delete wording which references the role of women in the home. | This amendment proposes to delete wording which references the role of women in the home. |
| It also proposes inserting the following wording with gender-neutral language: "The state recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision." | It also proposes inserting the following wording with gender-neutral language: "The state recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision." |
| Irish votes on gender and family to be held in March | |
| Irish votes on gender and family to be held in March | Irish votes on gender and family to be held in March |
| In the Republic of Ireland, a referendum must be held if the government wishes to change something in the Irish constitution. | In the Republic of Ireland, a referendum must be held if the government wishes to change something in the Irish constitution. |
| The constitution, known as Bunreacht na hÉireann, was first ratified in 1937 but has seen many changes over the years, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015 and the repeal of the country's abortion ban in 2018. | The constitution, known as Bunreacht na hÉireann, was first ratified in 1937 but has seen many changes over the years, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015 and the repeal of the country's abortion ban in 2018. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Family & Education | Family & Education |
| Republic of Ireland | Republic of Ireland |
| Women | Women |