2001 Falkland Islands electoral system referendum

2001 Falkland Islands electoral system referendum

November 22, 2001
Do you agree that there should be a SINGLE CONSTITUENCY for the Falkland Islands, with a new voting system for proportional representation?
Results
Yes   43.35% No   56.65%

The 2001 Falkland Islands electoral system referendum was held in the Falkland Islands on November 22, 2001, at the same time as the general election. Voters were asked whether or not they wanted to replace the two existing electoral constituencies (Camp and Stanley) with a single constituency for the whole of the Islands. Both constituencies voted against the proposal.

Background

Under section 27 of the Falkland Islands Constitution, any change to the constituencies on the islands must be supported in a referendum by at least two-thirds of those who are registered as electors in each constituency. ^[1]

Elections in the Falkland Islands are held every four years to elect eight members to the Legislative Assembly using multiple non-transferable vote. The Camp constituency is currently heavily over-represented in the Legislative Assembly, electing three of the eight seats (38% of the total) with the remaining five seats being elected from the Stanley constituency (62.5%). However, nearly 90% of the islands' population live in Stanley, compared to just over 10% in Camp. ^[2]

Question

The question posed by the referendum was:

Do you agree that there should be a SINGLE CONSTITUENCY for the Falkland Islands, with a new voting system for proportional representation? ^[3]

Results

Falkland Islands electoral system referendum, 2001

Choice	Votes	%
No	596	56.65
Yes	456	43.35
Valid votes	1052	98.50
Invalid or blank votes	16	1.50
Total votes	1068	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1502	71.11
Source: Falkland News [4]

By constituency

Region	Yes		No
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Camp constituency	61	24.69	187	75.40
Stanley constituency	395	49.13	409	50.87
Total	417	43.35	596	56.65
Source:Falkland News [4]

Under Chapter III of the Constitution of the Falkland Islands, a two-thirds majority was required in both of the islands' constituencies for the changes to come into force. This is the last referendum in which Stanley voted against forming one constituency.

References

1. "The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
2. "2016 Census Report" (PDF). falklandstimeline.
3. J. Brock (24 August 2001). "Falklands Voters Polled on Single Constituency". The Falklands News Network. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
4. J. Brock (22 November 2001). "Falklands Election Results in Mixed Bag for Stanley and Predictable Outcome for Camp". The Falklands News Network. Retrieved 2011-06-26.