POLLS ARE OPEN
Constitutional referendums being held on Family and Care wording
THOUSANDS of people are expected to head to the polls today to cast their ballots in the family and care referendums.
Pollings stations across the country opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm tonight.
The public is being asked to cast their votes in two referendums.
The Family amendment will be on a white coloured ballot paper.
This proposes expanding the definition of a family to include those in durable relationships. If passed, it would also remove the words “on which the family is founded” to Article 41.3.1 which currently states: “The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against
attack”.
The Care Amendment is on a green ballot paper. It proposes to remove two clauses from the constitution. This includ e s that “the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved”.
It would also remove: “The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of her duties in the home”.
The Care Amendment proposed inserting the words: “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”.
Results from the two referendums will be counted from 9am tomorrow and results are expected by evening.
The Constitution’s references to the role of women in the home and the family based on marriage have long been seen as outdated by equality campaigners.
Change was recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality in 2021 and by a special joint Oireachtas committee in 2022. Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Féin, the Green Party, Labour, Social Democrats and People Before Profit are all calling for a “Yes-yes” vote.