1969 Danish electoral age referendum

Last updated
1969 Danish electoral age referendum
Flag of Denmark.svg
24 June 1969

Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes448,72621.41%
Light brown x.svg No1,646,68578.59%
Valid votes2,095,41199.60%
Invalid or blank votes8,4430.40%
Total votes2,103,854100.00%
Registered voters/turnout3,309,55163.57%

A referendum on lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 was held in Denmark on 24 June 1969. [1] The proposed change was rejected by 78.6% of voters with a turnout of 63.6%. [2] Two years later, the electoral age was instead lowered to 20 years, and finally, after a 1978 referendum, to 18 years.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For448,72621.4
Against1,646,68578.6
Invalid/blank votes8,443
Total2,103,854100
Registered voters/turnout3,309,55163.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Liechtenstein</span>

The Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein was promulgated on 5 October 1921, replacing the 1862 constitution. It was granted by Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and established the rule of partial parliamentary democracy mixed with that of constitutional monarchy, as well as providing for referendums on decisions of the Landtag. It also abolished the three seats in the Landtag appointed by the Prince and lowered the voting age from 24 to 21.

A referendum on lowering the voting age from 20 to 18 was held in Denmark on 19 September 1978. It was held after the Danish government lowering the age of majority from 20 to 18 in 1976. The change was approved by 53.8% of voters with a turnout of 63.2%. The electoral age had previously been lowered from 21 to 20 in a 1971 referendum, after a 1969 referendum had rejected lowering the electoral age to 18.

A referendum on lowering the voting age from 21 to 20 was held in Denmark on 21 September 1971. The change was approved by 56.5% of voters, with a turnout of 86.2%. A previous referendum had been unsuccessful in lowering the electoral age to 18 years, which was introduced after a 1978 referendum and which still stands.

A constitutional and electoral age referendum was held in Denmark on 28 May 1953. Both proposals were approved by voters, leading to both a new constitution taking effect on 5 June, and the electoral age being lowered from 25 to 23 years, also starting on 5 June. Voter turnout was 59.1% for the constitution question and 57.1% for the voting age question.

A referendum on reducing the voting age from 23 to 21 was held in Denmark on 30 May 1961. It was approved by 55% of voters with a 37.3% turnout.

A constitutional referendum was held in Denmark on 23 May 1939. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution. Although it was approved by 91.9% of those who voted, a turnout of only 48.9% meant that the percentage of eligible voters approving it was only 44.46%, below the 45% required by the existing constitution of 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Liechtenstein referendums</span>

Five referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1992. The first was held on 15 March on whether referendums should be introduced to approve international treaties, and was approved by 71.4% of voters. The second on 28 June concerned lowering the voting age from 20 to 18, but was rejected by 56.3% of voters. Two were held on 8 November on abolishing the 8% electoral threshold and adding a clause to the constitution banning discrimination, both of which were rejected. The fifth and final referendum on 13 December was on joining the European Economic Area. It was approved by 55.8% of voters, with a voter turnout of 87%.

Five referendums were held in Switzerland in 1891. The first was held on 15 March on a federal law on federal officials who had become unemployable due to disability, and was rejected by 79.4% of voters. The second was held on 5 July on a constitutional amendment, and was approved by 60.3% of voters. Two referendums were held on 18 October, one on revising article 39 of the federal constitution and one on a federal law on Swiss tariffs; both were approved. The last was held on 6 December on the question of whether the federal government should purchase the Swiss Central Railway, but was rejected by 68.9% of voters.

A referendum on a war tax was held in Switzerland on 6 June 1915. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending the constitution to introduce a one-off war tax during the First World War, which Switzerland remained neutral. It was approved by a large majority of voters and all cantons, the first time a referendum had been passed in every canton.

A referendum on federal salaries was held in Switzerland on 28 May 1933. Voters were asked whether they approved of a federal law that would lower the salaries of federal officials on a temporary basis. The proposal was rejected by 55.1% of voters.

Three referendums were held in Switzerland during 1925. The first was held on 24 May on a popular initiative calling for insurance for invalidity, old age and bereavement, and was rejected by voters. The second was held on 25 October on a federal resolution on the settlement and residence of foreigners, and was approved by a majority of voters and cantons. The third was held on 6 December on a federal resolution on insurance for invalidity, old age and bereavement, and was also approved by a majority of voters and cantons.

Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1931. The first was held on 8 February on a federal resolution on a petition for a referendum on article 12 of the constitution concerning bans on religious orders, and was approved by a majority of voters and cantons. The second and third were held on 15 March on revising article 72 of the constitution concerning the election of the National Council and on revising article 76, 96 and 105 on the legislative term. Both were approved. The fourth and fifth were held on 6 December on a federal law on aged and bereavement insurance and a federal law on tobacco taxation. Both were rejected.

Three referendums were held in Switzerland during 1947. The first was held on 18 May on a popular initiative for "economic reform and rights concerning work", and was rejected by voters. The second and third were both held on 6 July on revising the articles of the federal constitution covering the economy and a federal law on aged and bereavement insurance. Both were approved by voters.

Four referendums were held in Switzerland in 1991. The first two were held on 3 March on lowering the voting age to 18, which was approved, and on a popular initiative on promoting public transport, which was rejected. The third and fourth were held on 2 June on reorganising the federal finances, which was rejected, and amending the military penal code, which was approved.

Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978. The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal Assembly and the People on national road making" (rejected), an amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance (approved), a popular initiative to lower the retirement age (rejected) and amending the article on the economic cycle in the Swiss Federal Constitution (approved). The next five referendums were held on 28 May on a law on time (rejected), an amendment to the tariff law (approved), a new federal law banning abortion (rejected), a federal law on promoting research and universities (rejected) and a popular initiative "for 12 Sundays a year free from motor vehicles" (rejected).

Six referendums were held in Switzerland in 1979. The first four were held on 18 February on reducing the voting age to 18 (rejected), a popular initiative "for the promotion of footpaths and hiking trails" (approved), "against advertising for addictive drugs" (rejected) and "for ensuring people's rights and the security of nuclear power installations" (rejected).

Eleven referendums were held in Switzerland during 2001. The first three were held on 4 March on popular initiatives on joining the European Union, lowering medicine prices and lowering the urban speed limit to 30 km/h in most places. All three were rejected by voters. The next three referendums were held on 10 June on two separate amendments to the federal law on the Swiss army and on a federal resolution on abolishing the requirement for a permit to establish a diocese, all of which were approved.

Five referendums were held in Switzerland in 1988. The first two were held on 12 June on a federal resolution on the constitutional principles behind a co-ordinated transport policy and on a popular initiative on lowering the retirement age to 62 for men and 60 for women. Both were rejected by voters. The final three referendums were held on 3 December on three popular initiatives "against real estate speculation", "for the shortening of labour time" and on limiting immigration. All three were rejected.

Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000. The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy ", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p524 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p533