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Should Denmark join the European Economic Community? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results by nomination district and constituency Yes: 50–55% 55–60% 60–65% 65–70% 70%+ No: 50–55% 55–60% 60–65% 65–70% 70%+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972. [1] The result was 63% in favour with a turnout of 90%. [2] The law that Denmark should be member of the EEC was passed on 11 October 1972, and Denmark became a member on 1 January 1973. [3]
According to Article 20, section 2 of the Danish constitution, any law that makes limitations to the sovereignty of the Danish state (as membership of the EEC would) must be passed in the Danish parliament with 5/6 of the parliament's members voting for the law. [4] If a majority of members vote for the law, but not by 5/6 majority, and the government wishes to uphold the suggested law, the law can still be passed in a public referendum, as was the case in the 1972 referendum. [4]
According to a 2022 study, municipalities that experienced more German-inflicted violence during the German occupation of Denmark in WWII were more likely to vote against joining the EEC. [5]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 1,958,043 | 63.29 | |
| Against | 1,135,755 | 36.71 | |
| Total | 3,093,798 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 3,093,798 | 99.38 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 19,323 | 0.62 | |
| Total votes | 3,113,121 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,453,763 | 90.14 | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |||
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A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This article summarises referendum laws and practice in various countries.
| Folketing elections |
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| Landsting elections | |
| European elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Other elections |
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| Referendums | |
| Parliamentary elections | |
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| European elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Referendums | |
See also: Elections and referendums in Denmark | |
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