Referendum Timeline of Events

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Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of direct democracy...

Timeline of Events

1860

3.5.1860

Parma, Tuscany, Modena and Romagna vote in referendums to join the Kingdom of Sardinia.

1905

11.12.1905

Norway holds a referendum in favor of monarchy over republic.

1920

12.19.1920

King Constantine I is restored as King of the Hellenes after the death of his son Alexander I of Greece and a plebiscite.

1936

3.29.1936

In Germany, Adolf Hitler receives 99% of the votes in a referendum to ratify Germany's illegal reoccupation of the Rhineland, receiving 44.5 million votes out of 45.5 million registered voters.

1946

6.2.1946

Birth of the Italian Republic: In a referendum, Italians vote to turn Italy from a monarchy into a Republic. After the referendum the king of Italy Umberto II di Savoia is exiled.

1961

1.8.1961

In France a referendum supports Charles de Gaulle's policies in Algeria.

1962

9.8.1962

Newly independent Algeria, by referendum, adopts a Constitution.

1975

5.16.1975

India annexes Sikkim after the mountain state holds a referendum in which the popular vote is in favour of merging with India.

1976

2.15.1976

The 1976 Constitution of Cuba is adopted by the national referendum.

1980

2.28.1980

Andalusia approves its statute of autonomy through a referendum.

1992

10.26.1992

The Charlottetown Accord fails to win majority support in a Canada wide referendum.

1998

5.23.1998

The Good Friday Agreement is accepted in a referendum in Northern Ireland with 75% voting yes.