1971 Haitian constitutional referendum

1971 Haitian constitutional referendum

30 January 1971

Citizen Dr. François Duvalier has chosen Citizen Jean-Claude Duvalier to succeed him as Life President of the Republic. Does this choice meet your aspirations and desires? Do you ratify it?[1]
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 2,319,916 100.00%
No 1 0.00%
Valid votes 2,319,917 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 2 0.00%
Total votes 2,319,919 100.00%

A constitutional referendum was held in Haiti on 30 January 1971.[2] Before the referendum, the Haitian parliament had voted in favour of lowering the age limit for becoming president from 40 years to 20, as well as confirming Jean-Claude Duvalier, son of ailing dictator François Duvalier at 21 years of age, which would allow him to succeed his father.

Ballots were printed with the "yes" option already filled in.[3] Although the official count was 2,391,916 in favour and no votes against,[4] it was reported that there were two blank ballots and one "no" vote.[5]

  1. ^ "Enter Mama Doc". Time. 22 February 1971. Archived from the original on 2008-12-21.
  2. ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005). Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I. OUP Oxford. p. 381. ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6.
  3. ^ "The disturbing similarities between the Duvalier regime and the administration of Jovenel Moise". Ayibo Post. 5 March 2021.
  4. ^ Irwin P. Stotzky (1999). Silencing the Guns in Haiti: The Promise of Deliberative Democracy. University of Chicago Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-226-77627-9.
  5. ^ "Black Nation of Haiti In Political Transition" (PDF). Manchester Evening Herald. Associated Press. 24 February 1971. p. 18.