On March 8th, 2024, the polls closed for two referendums in Ireland regarding changes to the constitution on family and care.
Voters were asked to expand the definition of family to include relationships not based on marriage and to remove references to the role of women in the home, replacing it with recognition of care provided by family members. Polls opened at 7:00 am and closed at 10:00 pm, with a requirement that voters be 18 or older, Irish citizens, registered to vote, and residing in Ireland.
Initial turnout was low but increased throughout the day, with some polling stations in Dublin reaching a 46% turnout by 8:30 pm. Counting of the votes will begin at 9:00 am on Saturday morning.
Voters were given two ballots – one white and one green. The white ballot asked if voters supported the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, which proposes expanding constitutional protections to families beyond just those based on marriage. The green ballot addressed the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, which seeks to remove gender-specific language regarding care and support within the family.
In Ireland, a referendum is required to amend the constitution. Stay tuned for the results of these important referendums.