Voters consider EU constitution

Irish citizens voted on whether to accept or reject the European Union’s new constitution, which seeks to reshape EU institutions and powers to cope with the bloc’s near-doubling in size over the last four years, from 15 to 27 nations with 495 million people.

The Lisbon Treaty contains many of the same plans as the EU’s previous master plan, which French and Dutch voters rejected in 2005.

This time, only Ireland’s 3.05 million voters pose a serious threat to ratification, because the other 26 members are requiring approval only by their national governments.

Approval by every EU member is required for ratification. Results are expected today.