Upcoming Irish referendums on family and gender are in danger of setting an unwanted record with voter turnout backed at short odds of even money with BoyleSports to slump to unprecedented levels.
On Friday, March 8 voters in Donegal and around the country will cast their ballot on two proposed changes to the Irish Constitution to propose a change to an almost 100-year-old definition on what family can be and women’s roles.
Two proposals to modernise language in the Irish constitution will be put to voters on International Women’s Day, but there is said to be concern within the coalition government that a low turnout could put the motions in danger of being rejected.
Just 28.6% turned out to vote in the 1979 referendums on adoption rights and university representation in the Seanad, but the odds now suggest an even lower percentage will show up next month when proposed 39th and 40th amendments to the Irish constitution are put to the public.
However a recent poll for the Irish Times by Ipsos B&A indicated a majority intend to vote in favour of the changes and the odds also make positive reading for the coalition.
Both are odds-on to pass with a ‘yes’ vote in the 39th amendment to expand the definition of the family rated likely at 2/5, while it’s an even shorter 1/3 shot that the 40th amendment is also passed, which will remove a dated reference to a woman’s role in the home.
Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “The referendum results are no foregone conclusion and while the odds favour a rewriting of the constitution, the history books may need updating too if the betting on a meagre turnout is on the money.”
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