2001 Falkland Islands electoral system referendum
22 November 2001
| |
Do you agree that there should be a SINGLE CONSTITUENCY for the Falkland Islands, with a new voting system for proportional representation? | |
| Results | |
|---|---|
The 2001 Falkland Islands electoral system referendum was held in the Falkland Islands on 22 November 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
| 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
- ^ "The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "2016 Census Report" (PDF). falklandstimeline.
- ^ J. Brock (24 August 2001). "Falklands Voters Polled on Single Constituency". The Falklands News Network. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ^ a b 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.