accordance with the 1956 Act, as further defined by special Enabling Acts of July 1967. The Government undertook an official information campaign outlining the alternatives and their implications. No rules of conduct or limits on expen- diture were imposed on campaigners.
The ballot forms required voters to strike out one of two alternative proposals and the results were decided by the majority of valid votes cast. Facilities were available for postal and absent voting.
Votes were counted locally. Although in both cases the national figure only was decisive, the Sale of Liquor Poll Act 1967 specified publication of the total number of valid votes for each electoral district, and voting figures for and against the proposed extension of the Parliamentary term were also published in this way.
Norway
The Constitution does not provide for referenda but five have so far been held by means of enabling legislation: on union with Sweden, the Monarchy, prohibition (two) and on membership of the EEC. Since the first two referenda, which were binding on the Government, all others have been consultative. How- ever, the majority of the Storting (Parliament) agreed, without a vote, that the result of the EEC referendum, held on 24 and 25 September 1972, should be binding if a clear-cut majority emerged.
In the EEC Referendum the Government provided information in a White Paper published in March 1972, a series of booklets on specialist topics available free of charge on application from June 1971, a general publication giving 100 answers to questions on all relevant subjects and a telephone information service. Public funds were also allocated to the political parties in proportion to their Parliamentary strength as in elections and to both pro- and anti-EEC organisa- tions without conditions as to their use. The total cost to public funds was approximately £815,000 (at the rate of exchange then current) for a population of under 4 million.
The question put to the Norwegian electorate in 1972 was: "Should Norway become a member of the European Communities?" The required answer was Yes or No. Voting facilities were available for those absent from their con- stituencies.
Votes were counted in electoral districts and a simple majority was accepted. Voting figures were declared on a constituency basis and figures for invalid votes were also available. The total poll for the EEC referendum was 78 per cent.: 46.5 per cent. of votes cast were for membership and 53.5 per cent. against.
Republic of Ireland
Under Article 46 of the Constitution, a Bill amending the Constitution must be submitted to referendum after passing both Houses of Parliament. Under Article 27, a majority of the Upper House and not less than one-third of the Lower House may also petition the President jointly for a referendum on a Bill "of national importance", but this procedure has not yet been used. The 1972 referendum on membership of the EEC was the fourth of six referenda held in Ireland.
For the EEC Referendum the Government issued a White Paper and pro-
15
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.