Early tallies on the Referendum held yesterday indicate a landslide NO vote towards two amendments to the Constitution.
Turnout for Waterford City and County were at some of their lowest compared to previous Referendums according to the Waterford Returns Office, standing at 50%.
85,910 people were registered to vote in Waterford as of yesterday morning, with 36,839 voting for the 39th amendment (Care in the Home) , and 37,854 voting for the 40th amendment (Family in the Home).
First ballot paper – 39th amendment
The first question put to Voters dealt with Article 41.1.1 and Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution – the family proposals.
Article 41.1.1, reads: “The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.”
The Government wants to insert the following: “The State recognises the Family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.”
The second part of this question relates 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.”
It is proposed this line would be changed to state: “The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, and to protect it against attack.”
Second ballot paper – 40th amendment
This paper relates to the care referendum.
The Government is proposing the deletion in its entirety of Article 41.2, which reads: “In particular, 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. The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.”
The Government wants to then insert Article 42B, stating: “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.”
Early results breakdown:
Across Waterford City and County, it appears to be a landslide NO vote in both proposed changes.
The below figures are a majority Care, but it is indicated the same is expected to be the same for the Family amendment.
- St. Paul's (City) - 70% NO/30% YES - Care
- Ballygunner (City) - 64.1% NO - 35.9% YES - Family
- Kill (County) - 77.2% NO - 22.8% YES - Care
- Kilmacthomas (County) - 66% NO - 34% YES - Care
- Tallow (County) - 75.1% NO - 24.9% YES - Care
- Ballyduff (County) - 70% NO - 30% YES 0 Care
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