To think the Irish Abortion Referendum outcome will be a close call?

[Jellyfish456]

Polling day is within touching distance and from what I’ve seen on my social media channels, the vast majority seem to be swaying towards voting to Repeal. Do we think this is a true reflection of the majority or are the No side just less likely to be vocal on their social media channels? Whatever the outcome, I think it will be close.

What are everyone else’s thoughts?

My nearly-eighty-year-old dad is voting yes and is so passionate about it, he’s taking my Mam* out to vote as well. I have hope, and I’m crossing my fingers very tightly.

*My mother has cancer and her immune system is weakened, so he’s usually very strict about who she comes into contact with.

Referendums are only called when public opinion is too close to call really, if it were overwhelming they’d just change the law. Unfortunately I think it will be close and just hope it goes the right way. The stories of women caught up in this are just unspeakably awful.

I'm hoping for a yes.

I know my DC are voting Yes. But it worries me that my otherwise liberal, very lapsed Catholic, feminist DH thinks he will vote No. I fear there are many people out there like him.

My 80 year old parents are also voting yes. Didn't even have to convince them.

I too will find it emotional - no matter what the result. It's my DD's first time to vote and I'm glad it's such a meaningful vote.

Referendums are only called when public opinion is too close to call really, if it were overwhelming they’d just change the law.

Not in Ireland, which has a written constitution. The law cannot be changed without a referendum to alter the constitution.

HorseOutside ask him to read the facebook page In Her Shoes. I just don't see how any reasonable person could read the stories on there and still think it was appropriate to vote No.

Apologies Dr, you’re absolutely right - my brain is not functioning well today but I stand corrected!

Feedback from people in my area is overwhelmingly yes. It had better be a yes. A no is unthinkable. I can't wait to vote.

I’m desperately hoping for a YES vote. Seeing all of the women fly back to Ireland to vote has been truly awe inspiring.

I think it will be ‘no’ which really makes me feel sick for the women of Ireland.

I hope it is a yes. It seems like about 80% of people at work are Yeses, but the Nos surprise me.. they're there, for sure... and some may be keeping quiet. My mother will vote no ffs

In terms of religion, I would have imagined that, as homosexuality is specifically barred by the Old Testament, in a number of places and with rather dire consequences, given that same sex marriage passed through, I have high hopes that the 8th will be repealed: whilst it's a big issue in the Catholic Church worldwide, it's not at all clear cut in any way, shape or form that it violates Biblical teaching. I sincerely hope, that as the same voters were able to take a modern, compassionate and tolerant approach to same sex marriage, that they will show the same modern, compassionate and tolerant approach to women's reproductive rights.

That said, voters worldwide are known for their logical and intellectual inconsistency, as well as their cognitive dissonance - so I don't think this will be over until it's over.

I am guessing a No.

Boopsy, no one credible claims that an embryo/foetus under 12 weeks can feel pain, the brain wiring simply isn’t there. Also, in most cases it won’t be a “procedure”, it’ll be taking pills. Unless you mean terminations for Fatal Foetal Abnormality (where the foetus may be in pain anyway) or to save the mother’s life/prevent serious harm?

I’m hoping for yes but really worried it will be no.

I was encouraged by the amount of people flying back to vote until I realised that a fair few were no votes.

I think I will probably cry if it’s no. Some of those stories on In Her Shoes are so tragically sad and inhumane.

I think it will be a yes vote but it will be close. I honestly think the youth vote who only registered to vote and the people travelling home from abroad will swing the vote. I think the turnout to vote will be high.

I have asked v few people how they will vote, but fear my dh will vote no. He is being v cagey about it.

I’m so nervous and emotional this evening - looking at all the #hometovote tweets and the lengths people are going to to come home and vote yes.... But I’m so worried that despite all the brilliant work and canvassing that it won’t pass. Can’t wait for tomorrow to be over. I’m a wreck!

I’m not Irish or in Ireland but I have been reading a lot on twitter about the vote. The American pro lifers have been very busy pushing their views all over it. I’ve been really touched by the stories of all the Irish people travelling across the world to go home just to vote. It’s made me think about how lucky I am in England to be able to make this choice if I ever need to. I hope the women of Ireland get to have the same choice available after the vote.

After Brexit and Trump, any optimism I may once have had about elections going the ‘right’ (ie progressive) way has evaporated.

The media and opinion pollsters need to stop listening to strident campaigners, virtue-signalling celebrities and social media echo chambers. Elections are decided by silent majorities.

I hope the result is Yes, but I’m braced for yet another disappointment.

Buttery the ballot paper is very straightforward.

I think it will be repealed.

I wonder if the vote is close will they have legal challenges to stop it and calls for second referendums to change the result. Maybe it will even be claimed the people didn't know what they were voting for.

I just don't see how any reasonable person could read the stories on there and still think it was appropriate to vote No

There are plenty of people who will do just that though. My parents and sister will . Unfortunately the older I get the more I notice just how many people struggle with anything outside their own experience.

My DM will say she wouldn't judge someone and then "Oh but I just couldn't do it" (have an abortion) therefore she's voting no. She's fucking 72, she's never going to need one and in any case it's not a vote to make it mandatory but there you go! Will pay lip service to the so called "hard cases" but still use her vote to keep the status quo...

Oddly enough the church seems to have kept it's beak out on this issue. I think it just might squeeze through, but I live in the most liberal area of the country where people are mostly yes voters, and I sometimes forget that other parts of Ireland are far more conservative.