VOTING IN THE children’s referendum will begin on a number of islands off the coast of Ireland today with over 2,000 people eligible to cast their ballots.

Islanders living off the coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway will be voting today as is traditionally the case in order to avoid the possibility of bad weather that could prevent ballot boxes from being brought to count centres on time.

Over 750 residents on the islands of Arranmore, Gola, Inishboffin, Inishfree, and Tory will be voting in the Donegal south west constituency.

While over 1,100 people will be eligible to vote on the Aran Islands off the Galway coast.

Around 200 people will be entitled to vote on Clare Island, Inishbiggle and Inishturk off the coast of Mayo.

Voting gets under way this morning with ballot boxes returning to the mainland at 7pm.

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The rest of the country will vote this Saturday with polls opening at 9am and closing at 10pm.

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