Icelandic sovereignty referendum, 1918

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A referendum on the Act of Union was held in Iceland on 19 October 1918. [1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the Act, which would lead to Iceland becoming a separate kingdom under the Danish Crown, making the country a sovereign state in a personal union with Denmark. It was approved by 92.6% of voters. [2] [3]

Iceland island republic in Northern Europe

Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic, with a population of 348,580 and an area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík, with Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country being home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate.

Kingdom of Iceland former country

The Kingdom of Iceland was a constitutional monarchy, a sovereign and independent country that was established by the Act of Union with Denmark signed on 1 December 1918. It lasted until 17 June 1944 when a national referendum established the Republic of Iceland in its place.

A personal union is the combination of two or more states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct. A real union, by contrast, would involve the constituent states being to some extent interlinked, such as by sharing some limited governmental institutions. In a federation and a unitary state, a central (federal) government spanning all member states exists, with the degree of self-governance distinguishing the two. The ruler in a personal union does not need to be a hereditary monarch.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For12,41192.6
Against9997.4
Invalid/blank votes243
Total13,653100
Registered voters/turnout31,14343.8
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

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References

  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p961 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p966
  3. "Af hverju heldur Alþingi hátíðarfund á Þingvöllum 18. júlí í sumar?". Vísindavefurinn (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2018-11-24.