Beartaítear leis an mBille seo socruithe a dhéanamh chun ráiteas speisialta a eisiúint mar eolas do vótálaithe ag na reifrinn a bheidh againn an mhí seo chughainn. Mar is eol do Sheanadóirí, cuirfear dhá thogra faoi bhráid na ndaoine ar lá an reifrinn, ceann acu a bheartaíonn an aois vótála a laghdú go dtí ocht mbliana déag d'aois. Má ritear an Bille, beidh an ráiteas a leagtar amach ann clóbhuailte ar na cártaí vótaíochta agus bheidh sé ar taispeáint freisin sna stáisiúin vótaíochta.
As indicated in the explanatory memorandum, the Bill proposes to assist voters at the forthcoming referenda by making available to them a statement relating to the proposals which are the subject of the referenda. It proposes that a special polling card, containing the statement set out in the appendix to section 1 will be sent to every elector, including postal voters and that the statement will also be displayed at polling stations. Presiding officers will be authorised to assist blind, incapacitated and illiterate electors who cannot vote without assistance, by reading out this statement to them, where necessary, and then marking the ballot papers in accordance with their instructions. These arrangements are the same as those made in relation to the referenda held in 1968 and in relation to the referendum on membership of the European Communities earlier this year.
Under the law relating to referenda, the proposal which is the subject of a referendum must be stated on the ballot paper by citing, by its Short Title, the Bill containing the proposal for amendment of the Constitution passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and the Ballot paper may not contain any paraphrase or summary of the proposal. The Short Title of a Constitution Amendment Bill gives little indication of the contents of the Bill, and where two referenda are held on the same day there would be a grave danger that voters would not be able to distinguish between the separate proposals. In the circumstances, I feel that Senators will agree that we should follow the same procedure as at previous referenda and include on the polling card to be issued to each voter a statement approved by the Oireachtas in relation to the proposals which are the subject of the referenda.
