DUBLIN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A referendum on Ireland's abortion law kicked off among the country's island residents on Thursday, a day ahead of other Irish voters, reported local media RTE.
An estimated 2,000 residents living on 12 islands off the western coast of Ireland had reportedly started voting at different times during the day.
The special arrangement for the voters living on the these islands was to make sure that their ballots will be sent to count centers on Friday night in time in case of all eventualities, said the report.
Army helicopters were employed in delivering ballot boxes to these islands, some of which are lying far away from the country's western seaboard, according to the report.
On one island named Inishfree, there were only four registered voters, it said.
On Friday, Ireland will hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, a law added into the country's constitution after a 1983 referendum, which virtually prohibits abortion in the country.
Over 3.2 million registered voters will be asked whether or not they want to repeal the Eighth Amendment in the Friday's referendum which will run from 7:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. local time.
Results of the votes are expected to be announced late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
