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| Ireland Referendum: Polls open on family and care changes | Ireland Referendum: Polls open on family and care changes |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Polls for the twin referendums will open at 07:00 local time on Friday | Polls for the twin referendums will open at 07:00 local time on Friday |
| Polls have opened in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. | Polls have opened in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. |
| Voters are being asked if they wish to expand the definition of family to include those not based around marriages. | Voters are being asked if they wish to expand the definition of family to include those not based around marriages. |
| They will also be 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 will also be 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 will close at 22:00 on Friday. | Polls opened at 07:00 local time and will close at 22:00 on Friday. |
| The Irish Electoral Commission said 3.3m polling information cards were being delivered in advance of polling day. | The Irish Electoral Commission said 3.3m polling information cards were being delivered in advance of polling day. |
| In order to vote, a person needs to be aged 18 or over, an Irish citizen, registered to vote and ordinarily reside in Ireland. | In order to vote, a person needs 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 across the country is low with polling stations said to be very quiet. | |
| As of 12:30 on Friday, the turnout was reported as 4.5% in the Dublin North West constituency and 12.8% in Dublin Bay North, according to RTÉ, the national broadcaster. | |
| Turnout is as low as 5% in some parts of county Donegal, rising to around 10% in Letterkenny and Donegal town. | |
| Polls remain open until 22:00 for most of the country but have already closed on some coastal islands. | |
| 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 will be given two ballots - one white and one green. | At the polling stations on Friday, voters will be given two ballots - one white and one green. |
| The white ballot will ask if voters want to accept or reject the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - otherwise known as the family amendment. | The white ballot will ask if voters want 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 current protection afforded to families under the constitution, as currently written, only extends to families built around a marriage. | The current 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 will also receive a green ballot. This refers to the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - or the care amendment. | Voters will also receive a green ballot. This refers 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 |
| 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 |