After 80 per cent of the ballots counted, 43.27 per cent of voters were in favour of the law, while 56.73 per cent voted against. About 468,000 voters cast their ballots, or slightly over a quarter of the electorate.

The new family legislation was passed in mid-2011 by the previous parliament that was dominated by centre-left and liberal parties, but it did not go into force because of demands for a referendum. Since the law was rejected in today's referendum, parliament will not be allowed to discuss a similar bill for at least a year and the previous family law will apply.

The possibility of homosexual couples adopting children was mainly opposed by religious communities, including the Catholic Church, while advocates claimed that the referendum should only legalise the existing situation in society and modernise family law as was the case in some countries in Europe.

Slovenia passed a law in 2005 making it possible for homosexual couples to register their partnerships with local registry offices, but denying them the right to inherit and other family-related rights and the right to enter into marriage.