1961 Somali constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Somalia on 20 June 1961 to vote on the new constitution for the country created the previous year by the union of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. It was approved by 90.56% of voters.[1]

1961 Somali constitutional referendum
20 June 1961
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 1,756,216 90.56%
No 183,000 9.44%
Valid votes 1,939,216 99.53%
Invalid or blank votes 9,132 0.47%
Total votes 1,948,348 100.00%
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In the territory of former British Somaliland, the Somali National League (SNL) party encouraged a boycott of the referendum, and 60% of the approximately 100,000 votes from the area opposed the constitution. However the south of the country had 1,952,660 voters, effectively giving the south the power of veto, and obfuscated the fact there was no popular mandate for a union.[2]

Electoral Fraud

More votes were cast in Wanlaweyn, a small town in southern Somalia, than in the entirety of Somaliland. This created a climate of distrust and a new term for southerners – Wanla Weyn.[3]

Results
Choice Votes %
For1,760,54090.59
Against182,9119.41
Invalid/blank votes−
Total1,943,451100
Source: African Elections Database

References
  1. Elections in Somalia African Elections Database
  2. Poore, Brad. "Somaliland: Shackled to a Failed State". Stanford Journal of International Law. (45) 1.
  3. Diriye Abdullahi, M. (2001) Culture And Customs Of Somalia, Greenwood Publishing Group, p.27
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