2008 Tuvaluan constitutional referendum

2008 Tuvaluan constitutional referendum

30 April 2008 (2008-04-30)

Results
Choice
Votes %
Republic 679 35.02%
Constitutional monarchy 1,260 64.98%
Valid votes 1,939 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,939 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 9,000 21.54%

A constitutional referendum was held in Tuvalu on 30 April 2008.[1] The referendum sought to abolish the monarchy of Tuvalu and establish the country as a republic. Had the referendum passed, the new president would have been indirectly elected by the Parliament of Tuvalu.

The referendum failed, with 679 votes in favour of establishing a republic and 1,260 votes to retain the monarchy.[2] As a consequence, Tuvalu remained a monarchy, and Elizabeth II remained head of state. Turnout for the referendum was low. Only 1,939 voters cast valid ballots, out of the approximately 9,000 voting-aged Tuvaluans. In comparison, 8,501 votes were cast in the 2006 parliamentary election.[1] A previous referendum on becoming a republic in 1986 was also rejected.

  1. ^ a b "Tuvaluans vote against republic", Tuvalu News, April 30, 2008
  2. ^ "Tuvalu votes to maintain monarchy", Radio Australia, 17 June 2008