Ireland Votes on Fate of E.U. Treaty

DUBLIN, Ireland — Ireland cast ballots yesterday on a treaty overhauling the European Union, in a referendum that by a fluke of constitutional law gives 3 million Irish voters a big say in the future lives of nearly 500 million Europeans.

For the Lisbon Treaty to go into force, all 27 E.U. nations must approve it. In 26 of those countries, the decision is up to politicians, where support is solid. Only Ireland is bound by its constitution to put it to the citizens — and many of them are by tradition proudly contrarian. Polls taken as the vote neared showed the issue too close to call, but with the "no" vote gaining steam.