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1996 Northern Mariana Islands constitutional referendum

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Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands
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A nineteen-part referendum was held in the Northern Mariana Islands on 2 March 1996. Voters were asked whether they approved of constitutional amendments of each chapter, with a separate vote on each.[1] All amendments were rejected.

Background

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A 1993 referendum resulted in a vote in favour of electing a Constitutional Council, which was subsequently elected in March 1995. The Council developed amendments to 19 chapters of the constitution.[1]

The referendum was originally scheduled to be on 4 November 1995 alongside general elections. However, it was later postponed to allow voters more time to familiarise themselves with the amendments.[1]

As well as a majority of votes in favour, each amendment also had to receive at least two-thirds of the vote in favour in two of the three Senate constituencies to be approved.[1]

Results

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Only two sets of amendments, to chapters 5 and 15, received a majority of votes in favour.[2][3] However, in both cases the requirement to get a two-thirds majority in two of the three Senate seats was not achieved.[2][3] The amendments to Chapter 15 were the only changes to receive two-thirds support in any Senate constituency.

Question For Against Invalid/
blank 		Total Registered
voters 		Turnout Senate seats
Votes % Votes % For Against
Chapter 1 1,698 41.26 2,417 58.74 4,115 10,092 0 3
Chapter 2 1,521 36.56 2,639 63.44 4,160 0 3
Chapter 2, articles 16 and 17 1,560 38.36 2,507 61.64 4,067 0 3
Chapter 3 1,451 37.42 2,427 62.58 3,878 0 3
Chapter 4 1,914 46.28 2,222 53.72 4,136 0 3
Chapter 5 2,136 53.57 1,851 46.43 3,987 0 3
Chapter 6 1,536 37.17 2,596 62.83 4,132 0 3
Chapter 7 1,764 44.92 2,163 55.08 3,927 0 3
Chapter 8 1,603 38.70 2,539 61.30 4,142 0 3
Chapter 9 1,575 38.67 2,498 61.33 4,073 0 3
Chapter 10 1,546 37.67 2,558 62.33 4,104 0 3
Chapter 11 1,581 38.51 2,524 61.49 4,105 0 3
Chapter 12 1,727 41.31 2,454 58.69 4,181 0 3
Chapter 13 1,024 24.66 3,128 75.34 4,152 0 3
Chapter 14 1,760 42.63 2,369 57.37 4,129 0 3
Chapter 15 2,284 56.59 1,752 43.41 4,036 1 2
Chapter 17 1,610 39.37 2,479 60.63 4,089 0 3
Chapter 18 1,439 35.43 2,623 64.57 4,062 0 3
Chapter 19 1,717 42.54 2,319 57.46 4,036 0 3
Source: Direct Democracy

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Northern Mariana Islands, March 2, 1996: Fundamental Rights Direct Democracy (in German)
  2. ^ a b Northern Mariana Islands, 2 March 1996: Representation in the USA Direct Democracy (in German)
  3. ^ a b Northern Mariana Islands, 2 March 1996: Allowing of gambling Direct Democracy (in German)
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