Ireland poised to lift strict ban on abortion
Official vote counts for referendum expected Saturday
DUBLIN — Two major exit polls have projected that Irish voters have repealed a constitutional ban on abortions.
The exit polls by RTE television and the Irish Times both project a landslide victory for the “yes” forces seeking to liberalize the strict abortion ban.
The RTE poll projects support will reach nearly 70 percent. The exit polls are only projections. Official vote counts are expected Saturday afternoon.
Catherine Murphy, coleader of the small Social Democrats party, said the exit polls “are strongly indicating that voters have taken on board the clear message that the constitutional ban harms women” and must be removed from the constitution.
The exit polls suggest strong support in virtually all parts of the country for repealing the ban.
If the “yes” vote is confirmed, Ireland’s parliament will be tasked with writing new regulations on abortion.
Ireland’s referendum Friday represented more than a vote on whether to end the country’s strict abortion ban.
It also was a battle for the very soul of a traditionally conservative Roman Catholic nation that has seen a For advocates of repeal, a “yes” vote was a landmark in Irish women’s fight for equality. For opponents, it was a betrayal of Ireland’s commitment to protect the unborn. wave of liberalization in recent years.
The country’s leaders supported a “yes,” an outcome that would repeal a 1983 constitutional amendment requiring authorities to treat a fetus and its mother as equals under the law.
They called it a once-ina-generation opportunity to liberalize some of Europe’s strictest abortion rules.
Voters went to the polls after a campaign that aroused deep emotions on both sides.
For advocates of repeal, a “yes” vote was a landmark in Irish women’s fight for equality and the right to control their own bodies. For opponents, it was a betrayal of Ireland’s commitment to protect the unborn.
The vote also was a key indicator of Ireland’s trajectory, three years after the country voted to allow same-sex marriages and a year after its first openly gay prime minister took office.
Emma Leahy said her “yes” vote came from her firm belief that everyone should be able to make their own choice when it comes to abortion.
“For Ireland, it’s hope for the future,” she said of the referendum. “Whether you agree or disagree, it shouldn’t be the government or anyone else making that decision.”
Vera Rooney voted against repeal.
“It is a hard decision, but I just feel I don’t have the right to take life,” she said. “I think life is sacred and for that reason I had to vote no.”