Why not a preferendum? A what?
Posted by Jason O on Dec 2, 2012 in Irish Politics |
One of the most annoying parts of the abortion debate in Ireland is the constant decrying of ”it’s a very divisive issue!” as an excuse for avoiding doing anything. Yet the reality is that it is a very divisive issue with the population divided from no abortion in any case to abortion on demand, and with a parliament struggling to square the circle and not piss off one group or another.
Why not have a preferendum? What’s that? It’s where a referendum has more than just a Yes/No answer. Why not put four or five options on a ballot paper, therefore allowing every voter a chance of voting for what they really want and then transferring to what they will accept, until one option gets 50% support. It’s how we vote in presidential elections, so why not on an issue as contentious as this?
At least the answer will be clear, decisive, and supported by a majority of those who vote, and everybody from SPUC to Ivana Bacik will have an opportunity to get their favoured option proposed directly to the people.
Often wondered about this. Would a preferendum be constitutional?
I think article 47 just says that a proposal must have a majority of votes cast.