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Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie
# 8thRef
Over 65s and slight majority of Fianna Fáíl voters only groups to vote No - according to RTÉ exit poll
The poll, conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes, asked 3,800 people at 175 polling stations.
EXIT POLL STATISTICS have found that three in four women in Ireland voted to repeal the eighth amendment while two in three men opted to do the same.
The poll, conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes, asked 3,800 people at 175 polling stations around the country in all different areas. The poll found that 69% voted Yes while 31% voted No.
A breakdown of the RTÉ exit poll found that young people voted overwhelmingly in favour of repealing the abortion ban.
Here’s a breakdown of who voted:
- 72.1% of women voted Yes
- 65.9% of men voted Yes
- 87.6% of 18-24 year olds voted Yes
- 84.6% of 25-34 year olds voted Yes
- 72.8% of 35-49 year olds voted Yes
- 63.7% of 50-64 year olds voted Yes
- 58.7% of those aged over 65 voted No
The Yes side was supported in all social classes as well as by the vast majority of supporters of political parties. The only party to favour a No vote, according to the poll, was Fianna Fáíl.
A breakdown of the supporters of political parties and how they voted is as follows:
- Fine Gael 74.9% Yes
- Fianna Fáil 50.3% No
- Sinn Féín 74.5% Yes
- Labour 80% Yes
- Solidarity-People Before Profit 82.1%
- Social Democrats 89.5 Yes
- Green Party 88% Yes
- Independents 72% Yes
Just under 77% of middle class voters voted to repeal, 63.1% of working class people voted Yes while 52.5% of farmers also opted to lift the abortion ban.
This is what swayed voters to vote the way that they did:
- 43% of people said it was people’s personal stories that were told to the media
- 34% cited the experience of someone who they know.
- 10% said posters affected how they voted.
- And 7% said it was through direct contact with campaigners.
Orla O’Connor of the National Women’s Council said that, if the exit poll is correct, the result is “phenomenal”.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, she said: “We want to thank every woman and man in every town, village and county who came out and voted yes. This is phenomenal. Assuming the polls are correct, this is a resounding roar from the Irish people about the horrors of the eighth.
“What became so clear was the importance of getting the public hearing the experiences of women and couples and hearing the reality of abortion in Ireland. It took enormous coverage for those women and men who spoke of fatal fetal abnormalities, of taking abortion pills and so on. I think today there will be a feeling of relief.”
Colm O’Gorman of Amnesty International added: “I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be part of this campaign. This win is the result of decades of campaigning but today’s vote is mainly the result of courage and integrity of women.”
