At Stake in this Referendum:

• An amendment to Article 41.3 of the Irish Constitution

Government Structure:

• Chief of State: President Michael D. HIGGINS
• Head of Government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo VARADKAR
• Assembly: Ireland has a bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) that consists of the Senate (Seanad Éireann) with 60 seats and the Parliament (Dail Éireann) with 166 seats.

Electoral requirements:

• Proposed amendments to the Constitution that pass both houses of Parliament are put to a popular vote. Referendums require a simple majority to pass. 

About the Referendum:

• The referendum would remove two provisions from Article 41.3 of the Irish Constitution. The first provision requires spouses to have lived apart for at least four of the five preceding years, and the second does not recognize divorce registered outside the country. More information on the referendum is available here.

Main Provisions in the Referendum:

• Do you approve of the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the undermentioned Bill?*

* Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Bill 2016

Population and Registered Voters:

• Population: 4,847,139 (2019 est.)
• Registered Voters: 3,397,636

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 2,441,394 (2019 est.)
• Is Ireland a signatory to CEDAW: N/A
• Has Ireland ratified CEDAW: Yes, Accession (23 December 1985)
• Gender Quota: Yes (Parliament)
• Female candidates in this election: N/A
• Number of Female Parliamentarians: 35 (Parliament); 18 (Senate)
• Human Development Index Position: 4 (2018)
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very Low (2019)

Disability Data:

• Is Ireland a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)
• Has Ireland ratified CRPD: No
• Population with a disability: 733,846 (est.)