Over half of voters know 'hardly anything' about upcoming referenda

Over half of those polled plan to vote yes to both referenda. However, the better-informed voters are more likely to vote against. Picture: Rui Vieira/PA

The majority of voters say they do not know what the constitutional changes in the upcoming referenda mean.

A month out from the two votes, 53% admitted they know "hardly anything at all" about them.

According to a poll carried out by the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A, just 8% are confident they know a lot about the changes while 36% believe they know "a little". Just 5% said they will not be voting in either referendum. 

Over half of those polled plan to vote yes to both referendums. However, the better-informed voters are more likely to vote against.

Currently, 52% said they will vote yes in the referendum on changing the provisions relating to the definition of the family. A quarter of voters are undecided and 15% intend to vote against it.

In the referendum which proposes removing the reference to women's role in the home, almost 60% said they will vote yes. Just 12% intend to vote against it while 23% said they have not decided yet.

The poll was carried out between February 2-6 and 1,200 people were involved.

What are the two referenda about?

The 39th Amendment to the Constitution will be on a white ballot paper and it deals with Article 41.1.1 and Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution, both of which relate to the family and proposes to insert the words “whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships”.

This would change the line that "the State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law".

It also proposes the deletion of the words “on which the Family is founded” from Article 41.3.1, which refers to the institution of marriage.

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The 40th Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023 proposes to delete Article 41.2 from the Constitution which reads:

"In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.

"The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home."

The vote would then insert an Article 42B with the following wording:

"The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision."