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Sinead Yang Yang Glynn, aged four, passes a polling station in Ranelagh, Dublin with her mother Dan Dan Glynn yesterday. Julien Behal/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Referendum
Children's Referendum count begins
Results are expected by noon.
BALLOT BOXES FROM polling stations across the country will be opened at 9am as the counting of votes in the Children’s Referendum begins.
According to RTÉ, turnout was low and may just exceed 30 per cent. That would make it one of the lowest ever turnouts for a national election or referendum. The Government had moved polling day to a Saturday in the hopes of boosting numbers.
The record for the lowest ever turnout in the State is from July 1979 when just 28.5 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots on the issues of adoption and university representation in the Seanad.
Asked about the referendum last night, Enda Kenny said Ireland is a democracy and, therefore, the Government cannot force people to vote.
As the number of votes will be low, a result is expected early afternoon.
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