Sir, – Paul Delaney (April 24th) expresses his concern about voter turnout for the May 22nd referendums. Some issues generate high levels of undecided voters. This will have an adverse effect on turnout. It creates the possibility of a minority of registered voters deciding the fate of a change to the Constitution. Of the 37 referendums held since 1937, 14 had voter turnouts below 50 per cent. Nine of these 14 referendums were approved by a minority of registered voters.
Changes to the Constitution are not done for trivial or transient reasons. To ensure that any proposed change to the Constitution is endorsed by a true majority of registered voters, all proposed amendments should include the provision that it will only be deemed approved by the voters if it receives a majority of valid ballots cast, and if there has been a voter turnout of at least 50 per cent. – Yours, etc,
DAN DONOVAN
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.