Polling at the referendum took place on Friday, 24th November, 1995 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The subject matter of the referendum was described as follows in the official polling card sent to each elector:
‘THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION (NO. 2) BILL, 1995, proposes to substitute the subsection here following for subsection 2 of Article 41.3 of the Constitution:
“A Court designated by law may grant a dissolution of marriage where, but only where, it is satisfied that –
i. at the date of the institution of the proceedings, the spouses have lived apart from one another for a period of, or periods amounting to, at least four years during the previous five years,
ii. there is no reasonable prospect of a reconciliation between the spouses,
iii. such provision as the Court considers proper having regard to the circumstances exists or will be made for the spouses, any children of either or both of them and any other person prescribed by law, and
iv. any further conditions prescribed by law are compiled with”.’
The total number of votes recorded in favour of the proposal was 818,842 and the total number of votes recorded against the proposal was 809,728. As the proposal was duly approved by the people, the Bill was signed by the President on 17th June, 1996 and promulgated as a law.
Result Summary
| Electorate: | 2,628,834 |
| Total Poll: | 1,633,942 |
| Percentage Poll: | 62.15% |
| Votes in favour of the proposal: | 818,842 |
| Votes against the proposal: | 809,728 |
| Invalid Ballot Papers: | 5,372 |