Australians have voiced their opinion on same-sex marriage — and they are overwhelmingly in favor of it.
Australia just overwhelmingly voted in favor of same-sex marriage
The prime minister vowed to respect the results of the survey, promising a vote in the parliament by Christmas.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
According to the results of a historic national postal survey announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday, 61.6 percent of Australian voters said yes, same-sex marriage should be legalized. A majority in every single state and territory voted in favor of marriage equality, with a turnout of 79.5 percent of eligible voters nationwide.
The results now go to the government, which opted to survey the population before the parliament took up its own vote on the issue.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who voted yes, has already pledged to follow through with the vote’s results. “We must respect the voice of the people. We asked them for their opinion and they have given it to us. It is unequivocal. It is overwhelming,” he said at a press conference.
Turnbull said a vote will come before Christmas.
Australia would become the 25th country to legalize same-sex marriage in at least some jurisdictions.
See More:
