Ireland – Exit Polls Suggest Voters Backed Abortion Liberalisation

Exit polls in the Irish capital Dublin suggest the homecoming of many expats helped the Yes vote steer to a win for the abortion referendum and that the result was less of a nail-biter than many had predicted in recent weeks, with the Irish Times claiming it might even become a landslide win for the yes-camp after most young people voted for abortion liberalisation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ireland has voted to liberalize its abortion laws, say exit polls. 68% say they voted “Yes” to revoke a policy that effectively makes abortion illegal. <a href="https://t.co/u5GGpF2urR">pic.twitter.com/u5GGpF2urR</a></p>&mdash; AJ+ (@ajplus) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/1000138230505717760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Although the difference between urban and rural areas was very outspoken as many had predicted (with rural Ireland voting to keep the old ways), unlike the Brexit vote or the Trump election win in the US, it was this time the urban and young voters that carried the weight. In the capital Dublin, some 80% of voters wanted to repeal the law.

Related coverage: http://thegoldwater.com/news/27074-Ireland-Expats-Return-Home-To-Vote-In-Abortion-Referendum-Video

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who had called the referendum, said: “Thank you to everyone who voted today. Democracy is in action. It’s looking like we will make history tomorrow…”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Irish Times exit poll predicts Ireland has voted to liberalise abortion by a landslide <a href="https://t.co/436NvMzjGc">https://t.co/436NvMzjGc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/repealthe8th?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#repealthe8th</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Referendum2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Referendum2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/5kc5mlAelz">pic.twitter.com/5kc5mlAelz</a></p>&mdash; Naomi O&#39;Leary (@NaomiOhReally) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiOhReally/status/1000120632577798145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The Irish Minister for health, Mr Simon Harris, who has turned out to be a bridge-builder during the campaign, said he “will sleep tonight in the hope of waking up to a country that is more compassionate, more caring and more respectful,” referring to the harsh words that opposing stances in the campaign had expressed in recent days and weeks.

If the result comes true, then parliament will vote on reform in the Autumn.

Mr Harris declared that his party would be introducing legislation that allows for an abortion on request up to 12 weeks in pregnancy, and thereafter in specific circumstances, to the Dáil (the Irish Parliament).

Until then, abortion will remain illegal in almost all circumstances.

Source:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/irish-times-exit-poll-projects-ireland-has-voted-by-landslide-to-repeal-eighth-amendment-1.3508861