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Line 1: {{~~for\|the~~Short ~~earlier rejected fourth amendment~~description\|~~Fourth~~1972 Amendment oflowering the ~~Constitution Bill, 1968~~voting ~~(Ireland)~~age}} {{for\|the earlier rejected fourth amendment\|Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1968}} {{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English\|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox referendum \| name = Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland \| title = To lower the voting age from 21 to 18 \| country = Ireland \| date = {{Start date\|1972\|12\|07\|df=y}} \| yes = 724,836 \| no = 131,514 \| total = 903,439 \| electorate = 1,783,604 \| map = }} The '''Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Act 1972''' is an [[Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland\|amendment]] to the [[Constitution of Ireland]] which lowered the [[voting age]] for all national elections and referendums in the state from twenty-one to eighteen years of age. It was approved by [[referendum]] on 7 December 1972 and signed into law on 5 January 1973. ==Background== The Fourth Amendment altered Article 16 which deals with elections to [[Dáil Éireann]] (the house of representatives of the [[Oireachtas]]). However other provisions of the constitution state that anyone entitled to vote in Dáil elections is also entitled to participate in the election of the [[President of Ireland\|President]] and in referendums, so the amendment affected these votes as well. The amendment did not, however, affect the minimum age at which one could be elected to the Dáil, and this remained at twenty-one. It was submitted to a referendum on the same day as the [[Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland\|Fifth Amendment]], which removed from the constitution reference to the "special position" of the Catholic Church and recognition of certain other named denominations. The '''Fourth Amendment''' of the [[Constitution of Ireland]] lowered the [[voting age]] for all national elections and referendums in the state from twenty-one to eighteen years of age. It was effected by the '''Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972''' which was approved by [[referendum]] on 7 December 1972 and signed into law on 5 January 1973. ==Changes to the text== '''DeletionThe ~~from~~Amendment altered the text of Article 16.1.2° ~~(removed~~in ~~text~~the infollowing ~~bold)~~manner:~~'''~~ '''Deletion from Article (removed text in bold):''' :Every citizen without distinction of sex who has reached the age of '''twenty-one years''' who is not disqualified by law and complies with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of Dáil Éireann, shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann. {{quote frame\|Every citizen without distinction of sex who has reached the age of '''twenty-one years''' who is not disqualified by law and complies with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of Dáil Éireann, shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann.}} '''Addition to Article 16.1.2 (added text in bold):''' {{quote frame\|Every citizen without distinction of sex who has reached the age of '''eighteen years''' who is not disqualified by law and complies with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of Dáil Éireann, shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann.}} ==Oireachtas debate== :Every citizen without distinction of sex who has reached the age of '''eighteen years''' who is not disqualified by law and complies with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of Dáil Éireann, shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann. On 16 February 1972, [[Brendan Corish]], leader of the [[Labour Party (Ireland)\|Labour Party]], proposed a constitutional amendment as a [[private member's bill]] to lower the voting age to 18.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-02-16/40/\|title=Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1972: First Stage.\|date=16 February 1972\|access-date=28 April 2018\|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref> This was opposed by the [[Fianna Fáil]] government as it did not wish to hold such a referendum until after the referendum on the proposed [[Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland\|Third Amendment]] on Accession to the European Communities (which was passed on 10 May 1972).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-02-23/48/\|title=Private Members' Business. - Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1972: First Stage (Resumed).\|date=23 February 1972\|access-date=28 April 2018\|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref> On 28 June 1972, the [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)\|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] [[Patrick Hillery]] moved the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1972 on behalf of the Fianna Fáil government.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-06-28/3/\|title=Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1972: First Stage.\|date=28 June 1972\|access-date=28 April 2018\|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref> At second stage, it was proposed by the [[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage\|Minister for Local Government]] [[Bobby Molloy]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-07-05/5/\|title=Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1972: Second Stage\|date=5 July 1972\|access-date=28 April 2018\|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref> It was supported by the opposition parties [[Fine Gael]] and the Labour Party, and passed final stages in the Dáil on 11 July.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-07-11/51/\|title=Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1972: Committee and Final Stages.\|date=11 July 1972\|access-date=28 April 2018\|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref> It passed all stages in the Seanad on 13 July, and proceeded to a referendum on 7 December 1972.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1972-07-13/4/\|title=Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1972: Second and Subsequent Stages.\|date=13 July 1972\|access-date=28 April 2018\|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref> ~~==Overview==~~ The Fourth Amendment altered Article 16 which deals with elections to [[Dáil Éireann]] (the lower house of parliament). However other provisions of the constitution state that anyone entitled to vote in Dáil elections is also entitled to participate in the election of the [[President of Ireland\|President]] and in referendums, so the amendment affected these votes as well. (The [[Ninth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland\|Ninth Amendment]] later diverged the two franchises.) The amendment did not, nonetheless, affect the minimum age at which one could be elected to the Dáil, and this remained at twenty-one. Although the changes shown above are those made to the English-language version of the constitution, constitutionally it is the [[Irish language\|Irish]] text that has precedence. The amendment was introduced by the [[Fianna Fáil]] government of [[Jack Lynch]] but was supported by every major political party. It was submitted to a referendum on the same day as the [[Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland\|Fifth Amendment]], which removed from the constitution reference to the "special position" of the Catholic Church and recognition of certain other named denominations. The Fourth Amendment was approved by 724,836 (84.6%) in favour and 131,514 (15.4%) against. ==Result== {{Referendum \|title = Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland referendum<ref name=Ref_results>{{cite web\|url=http://www.~~environ~~housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/~~Referenda/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,1894,en~~referendum_results_1937-2015.pdf~~\|title=Referendum Results~~\|work=[[Department of ~~the Environment~~Housing, ~~Community~~Planning and Local Government]]\|title=Referendum Results 1937–2015\|page=29\|date=23 August 2016\|accessdate=1221 ~~March~~April ~~2012~~2018}}</ref> \|yes = 724,836 \|yespct = 84.64 Line 32 ⟶ 50: \|electorate = 1,783,604 }} {\|class="wikitable sortable" \|+Results by constituency<ref name=Ref_results/> ! rowspan=2 \| Constituency ! rowspan=2 \| Electorate ! rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|Turnout (%)}} ! colspan=2 \| Votes ! colspan=2 \| Proportion of votes \|- ! Yes ! No ! Yes ! No \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil constituency)\|Carlow–Kilkenny]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 59,415 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 55.2% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''26,688''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,966 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''87.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 12.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Cavan (Dáil constituency)\|Cavan]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 37,229 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 54.0% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,737''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,875 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''89.9%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 10.1% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Clare (Dáil constituency)\|Clare]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 39,413 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 47.5% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,389''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,177 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''87.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 12.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Clare–South Galway (Dáil constituency)\|Clare–South Galway]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 34,820 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 52.5% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,425''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,759 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''89.8%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 10.2% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Cork City North-West (Dáil constituency)\|Cork City North-West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 36,115 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 48.2% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''12,737''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,881 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''76.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 23.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Cork City South-East (Dáil constituency)\|Cork City South-East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 36,476 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 54.1% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''14,561''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,436 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''76.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 23.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Cork Mid (Dáil constituency)\|Cork Mid]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 49,402 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 53.8% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''21,069''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,040 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''83.9%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 16.1% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Cork North-East (Dáil constituency)\|Cork North-East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50,016 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 54.8% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''21,521''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,201 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''83.7%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 16.3% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Cork South-West (Dáil constituency)\|Cork South-West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 38,285 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 53.1% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,259''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,947 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''79.4%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 20.6% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Donegal North-East (Dáil constituency)\|Donegal North-East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 37,924 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 43.4% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''13,620''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,408 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''90.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 9.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Donegal–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)\|Donegal–Leitrim]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 38,540 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 46.2% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,092''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,538 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''90.8%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 9.2% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin Central]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 46,775 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 43.7% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,663''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,752 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''80.7%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 19.3% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin County North (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin County North]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 58,761 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 48.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''23,386''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,370 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''84.3%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 15.7% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin County South (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin County South]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 45,289 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 55.9% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''20,239''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,461 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''81.9%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 18.1% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin North-Central (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin North-Central]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 49,073 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 49.5% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''18,734''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,850 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''79.4%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 20.6% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin North-East (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin North-East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 55,483 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 52.9% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''23,801''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,835 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''83.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 16.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin North-West (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin North-West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 44,369 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 46.5% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,419''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,471 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''82.5%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 17.5% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin South-Central (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin South-Central]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50,400 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 48.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''18,915''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,983 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''79.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 20.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin South-East (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin South-East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 37,840 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50.4% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''14,485''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,809 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''79.2%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 20.8% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dublin South-West (Dáil constituency)\|Dublin South-West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 41,740 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 44.8% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''14,942''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,831 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''84.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 15.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown (Dáil constituency)\|Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 56,151 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 57.7% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''25,656''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 6,032 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''81.0%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 19.0% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Galway North-East (Dáil constituency)\|Galway North-East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 34,358 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 47.1% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''13,856''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,296 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''91.4%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 8.6% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Galway West (Dáil constituency)\|Galway West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 35,999 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 42.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''12,747''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,981 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''86.5%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 13.5% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Kerry North (Dáil constituency)\|Kerry North]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 37,018 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 43.0% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''13,088''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,801 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''92.8%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 7.2% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Kerry South (Dáil constituency)\|Kerry South]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 36,391 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 43.2% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''12,967''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,652 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''88.7%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 11.3% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Kildare (Dáil constituency)\|Kildare]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 40,065 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,851''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,492 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''87.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 12.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Laois–Offaly (Dáil constituency)\|Laois–Offaly]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 56,344 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 55.0% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''25,663''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 4,079 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''86.3%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 13.7% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Limerick East (Dáil constituency)\|Limerick East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 47,001 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 54.5% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''19,074''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 5,177 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''78.7%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 21.3% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Limerick West (Dáil constituency)\|Limerick West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 35,904 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 56.4% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,621''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,548 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''86.7%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 13.3% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Longford–Westmeath (Dáil constituency)\|Longford–Westmeath]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 47,095 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 49.4% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''18,738''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,964 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''86.3%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 13.7% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Louth (Dáil constituency)\|Louth]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 40,278 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50.4% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,249''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,984 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''84.5%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 15.5% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Mayo East (Dáil constituency)\|Mayo East]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 34,810 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 46.2% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''13,830''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,271 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''91.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 8.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Mayo West (Dáil constituency)\|Mayo West]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 34,106 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 44.3% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''12,734''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,321 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''90.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 9.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Meath (Dáil constituency)\|Meath]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 39,040 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50.2% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,665''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,665 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''85.5%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 14.5% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Monaghan (Dáil constituency)\|Monaghan]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 36,214 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 47.3% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''14,000''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,899 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''88.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 11.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Roscommon–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)\|Roscommon–Leitrim]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 37,682 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 51.3% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,827''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,035 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''88.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 11.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Sligo–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)\|Sligo–Leitrim]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 38,049 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 48.8% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,068''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,129 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''87.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 12.4% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Tipperary North (Dáil constituency)\|Tipperary North]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 34,754 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 58.0% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''15,862''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 2,780 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''85.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 14.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Tipperary South (Dáil constituency)\|Tipperary South]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 46,127 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 58.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''21,342''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,963 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''84.3%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 15.7% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\|[[Waterford (Dáil constituency)\|Waterford]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 39,513 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 53.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,836''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,241 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''83.8%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 16.2% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Wexford (Dáil constituency)\|Wexford]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 49,881 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 52.3% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''21,121''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,408 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''86.1%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 13.9% \|- \| style="background:#c8ffc8;"\| [[Wicklow (Dáil constituency)\|Wicklow]] \| style="text-align: right;" \| 39,389 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 52.0% \| style="text-align: right;" \| '''16,359''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 3,206 \| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" \| '''83.6%''' \| style="text-align: right;" \| 16.4% \|- class="sortbottom" style="font-weight:bold; background:rgb(232,232,232);" \| Total \| style="text-align: right;" \| 1,783,604 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 50.7% \| style="text-align: right;" \| 724,836 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 131,514 \| style="text-align: right;" \| 84.6% \| style="text-align: right;" \| 15.4% \|} ==Implementation== The [[19th Dáil]] was dissolved on 5 February 1973 and [[1973 Irish general election~~, 1973~~\|a general election]] was held on 28 February. However, the [[Electoral roll\|electoral register]] was updated only every 15 April, so those under 21 were unable to vote despite the amendment. A 20-year-old student, represented by [[Seán MacBride]], asked the [[High Court (Ireland)\|High Court]] to postpone the election to vindicate his right to vote.<ref name="Ferriter2012"/> He lost his case, although he was awarded his costs due to its "public importance".<ref name="Ferriter2012">{{cite book\|last=Ferriter\|first=Diarmaid\|title=Ambiguous Republic: Ireland in the 1970s\|url=~~http~~https://books.google.com/books?id=qN-jf5dN7QAC&pg=RA2-PA30\|accessdate=30 March 2014\|date=1 November 2012\|publisher=Profile Books\|isbn=9781847658562\|pages=94–95}}</ref> Although the names of under-21s had already been added to the provisional register, it was the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1973 passed on 9 April which reduced the age limits in statute law in line with the amended constitution.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad1973033000011\|title=Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1973: Second Stage.\|last=O'Leary\|first=Michael\|date=30 March 1973\|work=Seanad Éireann debates\|pages=Vol.74. No.6 p.11 cc.513–4\|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1973/en/act/pub/0003/index.html\|title=Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1973\|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]\|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> The first under-21s to vote were a few graduates of the [[National University of Ireland (constituency)\|National University]] and [[Dublin University (constituency)\|Dublin University]] elections to the [[13th Seanad]]. The later [[Ninth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland\|Ninth Amendment]] passed in 1984 altered the text of Article 16.1.2° in a manner which would permit legislation to include certain people who are not citizens to be added to the register for elections to Dáil Éireann. However, the franchise for presidential elections and referendums remained restricted to Irish citizens. Although the names of under-21s had already been added to the provisional register, it was the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1973 passed on 9 April which reduced the age limits in statute law in line with the amended constitution.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad1973033000011\|title=Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1973: Second Stage.\|last=O'Leary\|first=Michael\|date=30 March 1973\|work=Seanad Éireann debates\|pages=Vol.74. No.6 p.11 cc.513–4\|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1973/en/act/pub/0003/index.html\|title=Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1973\|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]\|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> The first under-21s to vote were a few graduates in the [[National University of Ireland (constituency)\|National University of Ireland]] and [[University of Dublin (constituency)\|University of Dublin]] elections to the [[13th Seanad]]. ==See also== Line 43 ⟶ 421: [[History of the Republic of Ireland]] [[Constitutional amendment]] [[December 1972 Irish constitutional referendum~~, December 1972~~]] [[Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution\|Amendment XXVI to the U.S. Constitution]] (lowered voting age to 18) Line 55 ⟶ 433: {{Amendments of the Constitution of Ireland}} [[Category:1972 in ~~Ireland~~Irish law]] [[Category:~~1973~~1972 in ~~Ireland~~Irish politics]] ~~[[Category:1972 in law]]~~ ~~[[Category:1973 in law]]~~ [[Category:1972 referendums]] [[Category:~~1970s~~1973 in Irish ~~politics~~law]] [[Category:1973 in Irish politics]] [[Category:Amendments of the Constitution of Ireland\|04]] [[Category:~~Referendums~~Constitutional referendums in the Republic of Ireland\|04b]] [[Category:Suffrage referendums]] [[Category:December 1972 events in Europe]] [[Category:Electoral reform in the Republic of Ireland\|Amendment, 04]] [[Category:1970s elections in Ireland\|Amendment, 04]] [[Category:Electoral reform referendums]]