Ireland goes to polls in historic vote on same-sex marriage

May 23, 2015 00:05

Irish voters were choosing Friday whether to change the country's constitution to allow same-sex marriage.

It's a landmark referendum that, if passed, would make Ireland the first country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage through a popular vote.

Ireland's voters will be asked to approve this statement: "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex."

If more say "yes" than say "no," the change to the constitution will give gay and lesbian couples the right to civil marriage, but not to be wed in a church. Counting will start Saturday morning, with the result due by the end of the day.

As in many other countries around the world, the issue is a polarizing one. And the referendum will be a test of whether in Ireland, a majority Catholic nation, more liberal thinking wins out over conservative, traditional leanings.

Opinion polls in the run-up to the vote suggest that the "yes" vote is on track to come out on top, but that the gap is narrowing.

Read full story HERE.

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