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23rd May 2019

Divorce Referendum 2019: everything you need to know about voting tomorrow

Rebecca O'Keeffe

Divorce Referendum

Use your vote.

Tomorrow, Ireland will see local and European elections.

We’ll select people to represent us at home, and on the European stage.

However, there will be a third aspect of voting, in the form of a change to the constitution.

The Divorce Referendum 2019 will be held tomorrow.

The referendum in question proposes two potential changes to the laws on divorce in this country.

Currently, a couple are required to live separately for five years before they can apply for a divorce. Shocking, right?

If passed, this time frame will be abolished from the Irish constitution.

The Government will introduce legislation that will require a couple to be living apart for two years.

Still a long amount of time, but progress will be everything here.

Divorce Referendum

The second proposed change to the constitution is to make it easier for foreign divorces to be recognised.

Currently, the constitution prevents people who have gotten a divorce abroad from getting married again during the lifetime of their former spouse.

Although there are two changes proposed, voters will only be asked one question – Yes or No to the two changes.

Voters will be asked if they approve of the changes to the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2016.

If you approve of the proposed changes put an ‘X’ in the box beside ‘Yes’, and if you do not place an ‘X’ in the box beside no.

Simples. And it will only take up 10 minutes of your day.

Polling stations will open tomorrow at 7am and will stay open until 10pm – a massive period of time for you to get out and vote.

No excuse lads.

Get out and vote in the Divorce Referendum 2019!