A constitutional referendum was held in Lithuania on 10 November 1996 alongside the second round of the parliamentary elections. [1] Voters were asked whether they approved of an amendment to Article 47 of the constitution to add a paragraph allowing EU citizens to buy agricultural land. [2] Although it was approved by 52% of those voting, voter turnout was only 39.7% and the referendum failed to pass the threshold of 50% of registered voters in favour. [3]
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 447,801 | 52.01 | |
Against | 413,188 | 47.99 | |
Total | 860,989 | 100.00 | |
Valid votes | 860,989 | 83.46 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 170,634 | 16.54 | |
Total votes | 1,031,623 | 100.00 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 2,596,662 | 39.73 | |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
A referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was held in Spain on Sunday, 20 February 2005. The question asked was "Do you approve of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?". The consultative referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution for the European Union was approved by 81.8% of valid votes, although turnout was just 41.8%, the lowest since the end of the Franco era.
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 5 May 1946. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new draft Constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in 1945.
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 13 October 1946. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in June. Unlike the May referendum, which saw a previous constitutional proposal rejected, the new Constitution of 27 October 1946 was accepted by 53.2% of voters, and brought the Fourth Republic into existence. Voter turnout was 67.6%.
A non-binding referendum on the Single European Act was held in Denmark on 27 February 1986. It was approved by 56.2% of voters, with a voter participation of 75.4%.
A constitutional referendum was held in Poland on 25 May 1997. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution. It was narrowly approved, with 53% voting in favour. Voter turnout was 43%, below the 50% required by the 1995 Referendum Act to validate the referendum. However, the Supreme Court ruled on 15 July that the 1992 'small' constitution took precedence over the Referendum Act and that the constitution could be introduced.
A constitutional referendum was held in Bulgaria on 16 May 1971. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution. The new constitution defined Bulgaria as a "socialist state of the working people from the cities and the villages", led by the Bulgarian Communist Party in cooperation with the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union. The result was reportedly 99.7% in favour, with a voter turnout of 99.7%.
A referendum on a new constitution and citizenship was held in Estonia on 28 June 1992. Voters were asked whether they approved of the new constitution drawn up by the Constitutional Assembly and extending suffrage to people who had applied for citizenship by 5 June. The new constitution was approved by 92% of voters, whilst the suffrage extension was rejected by 53%. Voter turnout was 67%.
An advisory referendum on joining the European Union was held in Finland on 16 October 1994. 56.9% of voters approved of the proposal, with a voter turnout of 70.8%. Due to having its own customs jurisdiction, a separate referendum was held in Åland a month later, and was also approved.
A constitutional referendum was held in Switzerland on 19 April 1874. The new constitution was approved by 63.2% of voters and a majority of cantons. It gave more responsibilities and powers to the federal government.
Two referendums were held in Switzerland in January and May 1879. A federal law on subsidies for railways in the Alps was passed by 70.7% of voters on 19 January, whilst a referendum on abolishing the constitutional ban on the death penalty on 18 May was passed by 52.5% of voters and a majority of cantons. Following the vote, ten of the 26 cantons reintroduced the death penalty during the 1880s and 1890s and nine executions occurred before its nationwide abolition in 1938, when a new criminal code was approved in a referendum.
Three referendums were held in Switzerland in 1882. Two were held on 30 July on copyright law and measures against epidemics, both of which were rejected. The third was held on 26 November on executing article 27 of the federal constitution, and was rejected by 64.9% of voters.
Two referendums were held in Switzerland in 1887. The first was held on 15 May, asking voters whether they approved of a federal law on spirits, and was approved by 65.9% of voters. The second was held on 10 July, asking voters whether they approved of an amendment made to article 64 of the federal constitution, and was approved by 77.9% of voters and 20.5 cantons.
A referendum on accident and health insurance was held in Switzerland on 2 October 1890. Voters were asked whether they approved of a federal resolution on amending the constitution with regards to accident and health insurance. It was approved by a majority of voters and cantons.
A referendum on animal protection was held in Switzerland on 20 August 1893. Voters were asked whether they approved of prohibiting butchering without the animals being anaesthetised. The proposal was approved by 60.1% of voters and a narrow majority of cantons.
A referendum on copyright was held in Switzerland on 19 March 1905. Voters were asked whether they approved of a federal resolution on revising article 64 of the constitution, defining the protection rights of inventors. It was approved by 70.4% of voters and a majority of cantons.
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 stamp duty was held in Switzerland on 13 May 1917. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending articles 41bis and 42 lit d of the constitution, which covered stamp duty. The proposal was approved by a majority of voters and cantons.
Three referendums were held in Switzerland during 1908. The first two were held on 5 July on amending the federal trade law and on banning absinthe. Both were approved by a majority of voters and cantons. The third was held on 25 October on adding article 24bis to the constitution, concerning hydroelectricity and electricity. It was also approved by a majority of voters and cantons.
Four referendums were held in Switzerland during 1939. The first two were held on 22 January on a popular initiative on civil rights and a federal resolution on the restricted use of the urgency clause in the constitution. The third was held on 4 June on a constitutional amendment regarding the funding for government policies on defence and unemployment, and was approved by voters. The fourth was held on 3 December on a federal law on the employment status and insurance for federal civil servants, and was rejected by voters.
Five referendums were held in Switzerland in 1970. The first was held on 1 February on a federal resolution on the domestic sugar market, and was approved by voters. The second was held on 7 June on a popular initiative "against foreign infiltration", and was rejected by voters. The third and fourth were held on 27 September on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution regarding promoting gymnastics and sports, which was approved, and a popular initiative on the "right to habitation and expansion of family protection", which was rejected. The fifth was held on 15 November on an amendment to the federal financial order, which was rejected due to not enough cantons voting in favour.