1977 Australian referendum (Referendums)

1977 Australian Territorial Suffrage referendum

21 May 1977 (1977-05-21)

It is proposed to alter the Constitution so as to allow electors in the territories, as well as electors in the states, to vote at referendums on laws proposed to alter the Constitution.

Do you approve of the proposed law?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 5,805,669 77.72%
No 1,664,156 22.28%
Valid votes 7,469,825 98.21%
Invalid or blank votes 136,057 1.79%
Total votes 7,605,882 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 8,242,383 92.28%

The 1977 Referendums question was a successful amendment to the Australian constitution that allowed Australians living in territories to vote on future referendums. This question was put to voters alongside four others during 1977. With the success of the vote, the Constitution Alteration (Referendums) Bill 1977 passed. In future referenda, the votes of electors in the territories would be counted towards the national total, but would not be counted toward any state total.