Referendum!

[springbrigid]

Anyone inclined to give an opinion? I am leaning towards a yes/no vote, the yes to remove what I see as sexist language in the constitution, the no because the government are so appalling in terms of providing services and rights to disabled citizens and I feel the clause is paternalistic and pushes care on families yet again

Sorry @DeanElderberry

That has gone entirely over my head

I don't know. I actually think if you haven't bothered or just didn't have a chance to think about the issues a bit you shouldn't vote really.

I've asked a lot of people about how they feel about the Referendum recently and too many have said (as late as last night) 'oh I don't know, haven't thought about it, what's it about again, I suppose I'll say yes'. Because at first glance it seems progressive and some of them have been men who think they're doing the right thing by women by voting yes.

All are smart, educated people but they simply haven't given any time to this and I'm afraid yes could be carried because of that😔

There was a very close election (for the Dail I think) that had at least one full recount and the analysis of the punched holes was a factor. Reporters were waiting around the RDS for days. It was a year or two after the classic American example.

https://www.history.com/news/2000-election-bush-gore-votes-supreme-court

I take it there will be independent monitors at the count centres? I wouldn't put anything past the Politburo in Leinster House now.

Not terribly busy but not dead either, I voted at 8.30ish. One person in the queue at the table to get ballots ahead of me and about 6 people in the booths at the same time.

Referendum voting is so much easier than election voting, was in and out in under 5 minutes including a nostalgic glance at all the tiny chairs and coat racks in the national school

There are too many people around for anything to be falsified. There are gardai, there are two people at each desk plus two people for checking. Tomorrow at the count, there will be all kinds of people milling around. I don't think the prospect of anyone trying to fix it is very likely.

Perhaps, but I feel we should all vote even if "our" side lose.

People have died to get us this right. , along with many currently who would love the right to vote.

It wasn't so long ago that some people on our island did not have that right.

We need to use it regardless of the side.

@Dublincailin I agree. One of my dc's is reading a booking about the Irish suffragettes at the moment. I was flicking it through it last night & it was just brilliantly written. I'll link it.

https://obrien.ie/the-making-of-mollie

There is a sequal too. It's a good read for kids for IWD & is especially poignant this weekend highlighting the suffragette cause.

Personally, I've absolutely no problem with people voting yes if they've given it a bit of thought and feel it's for the best. Of course they should vote for what they believe is right.

It's people sleepwalking through this I find upsetting tbh. I don't think it's fair to their fellow citizens.

I'm a carer so I feel the result of the care vote could affect my life and DC's life in a meaningful way.

Cheers @VoteNONO

I will check it out.

I always vote - with one exception, I was out of the country for one of the lower profile referendums. Other than that, I've never missed a ballot in more than 40 years. Our franchise is a thing to treasure.

A synopsis of all the NGO who have lobbied for a Yes/Yes... My God. They must have got some amount in brown envelopes...

@Ceirseach

That is the gamble, we can't have it both ways.

We have to rely on people doing their due diligence, but we cannot and should not make voting conditional on the research people use.

I am well aware of the consequences of the care referendum changes.

I still believe that we should vote.

Now if we could cut off the amount of counts to ensure substandard candidates do not get in, well I can get behind that.

I know, I know.
I just find it upsetting that our lives can be shaped by heedlessness, thoughtlessness.

Very upset at Family Carers Ireland in particular. There are so many angry carers giving out on their Facebook page. Never saw so many 😡emojis together before!

I don't think their position is truly representative of the group they claim to advocate for and yet their name was constantly brought out as a gotcha during debate.

.

@Ceirseach isn't it shocking when you see all the Ngos grouped together like that. All for the Yes side.
Even after the Ditches revelations yesterday evening not one of them came out condemning O Gorman, there was still a little window to change their stance but they kept lobbying for the Yes side despite all the very obvious ramifications that are going to inevitably come about.

Just back from voting, nice steady stream of voters trickling in while I was there.

H reported it was quiet in our polling station, he was there during office hours though. I assume there'll be a bit of a rush later.

Their funding is at stake for all the NGO's

I am hoping it is a case of living to fight another day thinking

Maybe a bigger picture for a campaign pledge in next election .

I don't know but would like to think it is more nuanced than falling for fake words

I just heard on the Pat Kenny radio show on Newstalk that a Referendum won't be needed. It will be decided in the Dail, but probably not in the lifetime of this government.

I would expect the legislation put in with the abortion referendum will be open enough to include assisted dying without much tweaking

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0308/1436677-referendum-ireland/

RTÉ reporting a slow turn out but it is very early days.

Nice to see Michael D in that photo looking well after being in hospital

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that.