Polling at the referendum took place on Tuesday, 26th May, 1987 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The subject matter of the referendum was described as follows on the official polling card circulated to each elector:
“THE TENTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL BILL, 1987, proposes to enable the State to ratify the Single European Act by inserting the sentence here following into subsection of section 4 of Article 29 of the Constitution after the first sentence:
The State may ratify the Single European Act (signed on behalf of the Member States of the Communities at Luxembourg on the 17th day of February, 1986, and at the Hague on the 28th day of February, 1986).”
(The statement was prescribed by the Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1987).
The total number of votes recorded in favour of the proposal was 755,423 and the total number of votes recorded against the proposal was 324,977. As the proposal was duly approved by the people, the Bill was signed by the President on 22nd June, 1987 and promulgated as law.
Result Summary
| Electorate: | 2,461,790 |
| Total Poll: | 1,085,304 |
| Percentage Poll: | 44.09% |
| Votes in favour of the proposal: | 755,423 |
| Votes against the proposal: | 324,977 |
| Invalid Ballot Papers: | 4,904 |