The influence of turnout of the results of the referendum to amend the constitution to include a clause on the rights of the unborn

Abstract

The Referendum on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, held on 8th September, 1983, endorsed by a two-to-one majority the insertion into the Constitution of Ireland a clause concerning the right to life of the unborn. A feature of the poll that has attracted considerable attention was the low turnout. Only 54.6 per cent of the electorate voted in the Referendum, and the high abstention rate naturally fuelled speculation as to the "true" level of support for the amendment in the population as a whole.