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?

I'm very worried the no vote will carry. There seem to have been so many convoluted hypothetical scenarios from the no side that seem to speak to so many voters. While the yes side have had real life stories, including that of my lovely friends daughter "C" who has a pregnancy test before every cancer treatment and if it was positive treatment would stop, effectively ending her life, it's frightening.

"She'll be a woman one day, choose life for her, vote no" - anyone else getting this ad on Mumsnet now?

They should have replaced the word "woman" with "incubator".

That's what the current law boils down to.

I read yesterday that a church somewhere had a poster saying that women had abortions so that their summer holiday wouldn't be affected. Utter rubbish. But in any event, I couldn't help wondering why that matters - the man who impregnanted her would still be able to go on his holiday and enjoy it. Why do men get to cut and run and women are stuck with it? That was always the case, even in the UK until fairy recently, you were no better than you ought to be if you "got yourself pregnant" (Holy Spirit anyone?) and the bloke got to carry on just as normal.

Access to abortion levels the playing field a bit.

I think it'll be yes, 55 % 45%. I really wish though people on both sides could appreciate the genuine motives of majority of those on the other side. But that'll probably never happen. I also hope whichever side wins the 'celebrations' will be minimal. Whatever side you're on, people will be genuinely devastated at the implications of losing.

But even with a yes vote, I think legislation will be slow, esp with a general election likely not far off.

Besides, many people still believe that your vote is actually a private matter, you know, so anyone who believes that is certainly not going to be broadcasting their proposed vote on the internet.

Yes you believe you have a right to dictate what a woman in crisis does with her body? Ironic.

I think if the vote is no, would it be worth to lobby for the right to abort in cases of rape and foetal anomaly? At least it would be a start and could perhaps persuade some of the no voters

I'm heading to the polling booth later today to vote yes. Like the pps I'm hopeful for a yes but afraid it'll be a no. DH has already voted yes. I think all my family and friends are yes people ( except for 2 who have made their choice clear on social media). But you never know.

I really hope the right decision will be made, the law at the moment is horrendous. No woman should be forced to continue with a pregnancy, it's completely barbaric.

Just posted this on another thread -really do hope it’s a decisive Yes vote:

The #hometovote twitter tag is a fabulous read. People have gone to extraordinary lengths to get back to vote. Have fingers crossed it will be enough to tip the balance - good luck to all the Yes voters today.

Will be voting yes later on this evening. Same as other posters I am shocked at some people I know that are a staunch no. I can't get my head around why they are voting no.

It's a really divisive and emotional issue here. Really hoping that the yes wins but I would imagine it will be very close. Repeal

Excuse my ignorance but I've seen a few comments on this thread saying "I've lost my vote". What do you mean by you've lost your vote?

Good luck Ireland.

I think if the vote is no, would it be worth to lobby for the right to abort in cases of rape and foetal anomaly? At least it would be a start and could perhaps persuade some of the no voters

Not possible without repealing the 8th amendment.

Mission, once you're out of the country 18 months or so, you're no longer eligible to vote: you need to be a citizen resident in Ireland.

As one in five people born in Ireland currently live abroad, it's fair enough. I don't think it fair that us emigrants get to dictate policies Irish people in Ireland have to live with. Or all the new Brexit Irish Having said that, I do have two votes in the Senate, which is the upper house thanks to university degrees and I use them, and only voted for people looking to repeal the 8th last time round but I've no right to vote in referenda or national elections.

Really hope it's a yes. In this day and age others really do not have a right to decide what other women should do with their bodies.

Thanks Usuallydormant. So I take it then all the "flying home to vote" are all people who have been out of the country for less than 18 months?

If you flew home, how long would you have to stay before you get the right to vote again?

Do check out the #HomeToVote hashtag on Twitter if you haven't. I'm welling up. Scenes at Dublin airport are amazing.

I hope that people realise that repealing the 8th ammendment is required so that medical professionals can start to put the rights of a woman over her own body above that of her unborn child. So many women have been made to suffer because medical professionals have against all logic, put the rights of unborn children above the rights of women.

The argument for legislation for abortion is a discussion for another day.

Why are men allowed to vote on this issue?
This should be a woman only vote in my opinion.

I am worried.
Every local politician is voting no minus two.
The no campaign in rural Ireland is strong it's a very different feel to going to Dublin/Cork/Galway.
The campaign by no had been disgusting I have had to explain graphic posters to my ten year old who wants to know why we would vote on "murdering babies"

Along with why the UK allows murdering babies.

I agree that men should not be allowed a vote on this. Imagine having a vote something that doesn't effect women and yet potentially has a serious emotional and physical effect on male health only. Can't imagine women getting much room to deny something like that to the opposite sex. Shouldn't bloody be allowed this way round either.

Surferjet - my godson has been out campaigning hard for a yes vote. I want him to vote. He and all of his friends. He is gay and was heavily involved in campaigning for the vote for same sex marriage also. Quite a few of my male relatives and friends are voting yes. We need their votes too.

Anyone voted yet? What was it like at the polling station? Any feelings what way people were voting?

I may be wrong, but assume that more men are likely to vote no than women. Whilst it's great your godson is campaigning, I think it would be less likely that he would need to if the vote was simply down to the group of people (women) that it directly affects.

How does the referendum work? Is a simple majority enough?

I think it will be close. I am friends on fb with a lot of members of a conservative religion and they are all promoting a very strong no. Most people i know outside that group are voting yes. I live in Dublin so lots of yes voters here. It's the rural areas I would be more worried about.

Yes simple majority will do it.