Polling locations across the nation starting operating from 7am this morning as citizens commence their voting in two referendums focusing on prospective amendments concerning family and care in the Constitution. These stations will welcome voters until 10pm on Friday.
In excess of 86,000 individuals have been added to the voting register since the inception of the year, thus enabling approximately 3.5 million people to cast their votes in today’s referendum.
The referendum labeled ‘family’ seeks to modify article 41.1 of the Constitution to broaden the State’s acknowledgment of family not solely based on matrimony but also on “permanent relationships”.
Labelled ‘care’, the second referendum aspires to eliminate article 41.2, which acknowledges the role of a woman’s existence within household operations as a vital contribution to societal welfare and constitutes that the State should endeavour to protect mothers from being compelled by fiscal need to labour outside their homes.
A suggested fresh article 42B stipulates that the State must ‘endeavour to support’ the provision of care “between member of the family because of their strong bond”.
By and large, most voters who have registered would have received a card containing details regarding their polling location. This card should have an elector number and details of the nearby polling station. It would also comprise a statement explaining the essence of the referendums.
While it’s ideal for voters to bring their polling card to the station, they should also carry a valid ID, which could be a passport, driving license, student card or public service card. Even if their polling card hasn’t arrived, if a person is on the register, they can vote with just their ID.
Upon entering the polling booth, voters will be prompted to provide their name and address, upon which they’ll be given a stamped ballot paper. Instructions on how to vote and the proposed referendum details will be on the ballot paper and voters are supposed to mark an “X” in either the “yes” or the “no” box, fold the ballot paper and place it in a sealed ballot box.
The first query revolves around Article 41.1.1 and Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution, known as the family provisions. These will be represented on a white ballot paper. The second voting slip, connected to the 40th amendment and pertaining to the care referendum, will be of a green hue.
Electorates should bear in mind, capturing any photographs or so-called ‘selfies’ while in the polling booth is disallowed as it jeopardises the anonymity of the vote. Moreover, avoid inscribing anything additional on your voting paper as it runs the risk of rendering your vote invalid. Electioneering within a 50-metre radius of the voting station is likewise not permitted.
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