The government of Ireland held referendums on 22 May 2015 on two proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland which had been recommended by the Constitutional Convention.[1] The amendment to permit same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland was approved by 62%-38% of the voters.[2] The other amendment would have reduced the age of candidacy for the President of Ireland from 35 to 21, but voters rejected it by 73%-27%. A Dáil by-election in Carlow–Kilkenny was held on the same day.[2] Other amendments were considered but not proceeded with, including reducing the voting age from 18 to 16, and sanctioning the establishment of a Unified Patent Court.[3][4]

Same-sex marriage

Voters were asked whether to add to the Constitution that "marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex".[5] The proposal was supported by the Government as well as all major political parties,[6][7][8] and was approved by 62.07% of voters.[9]

Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2015
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,201,607 62.07
No 734,300 37.93
Valid votes 1,935,907 99.29
Invalid or blank votes 13,818 0.71
Total votes 1,949,725 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 3,221,681 60.52

Presidential candidacy age

Voters rejected a proposal to reduce the age of eligibility to run for president from 35 to 21 by a 73% to 27% margin.[10]

Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2015
Choice Votes  %
Referendum failed No 1,412,602 73.06
Yes 520,898 26.94
Valid votes 1,933,500 99.18
Invalid or blank votes 15,938 0.82
Total votes 1,949,438 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 3,221,681 60.52

References

  1. ↑ "Ireland Sets Date For Same Sex Marriage Vote". Sky News. 20 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Wording of same-sex marriage referendum published". RTÉ.ie. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Government to hold up to half a dozen referendums next year". The Irish Times. 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Collins, Stephen (15 January 2015). "Coalition abandons plan for poll on younger voting age". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Wording of same-sex marriage referendum published". RTÉ. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Sheahan, Fionnan (5 November 2013). "Government to call for Yes vote for gay marriage". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "Fine Gael will take stance on gay marriage, says Kenny". Independent.ie. 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Fine Gael says 'yes' to same-sex marriage but 'no' to legalising cannabis". TheJournal.ie. 1 March 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Results received at the Central Count Centre for the referendum on the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015". Referendum Ireland. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015.
  10. ↑ url="Referendum 2015: Home". Archived from the original on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
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