2015 Irish constitutional referendums

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
Main article: Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland

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
Main article: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2015

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. "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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