1983 South African constitutional referendum

1983 South African constitutional referendum

2 November 1983 (1983-11-02)

Are you in favour of the implementation of the Constitution Act, 1983, as approved by Parliament?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,360,223 66.29%
No 691,577 33.71%
Valid votes 2,051,800 99.48%
Invalid or blank votes 10,669 0.52%
Total votes 2,062,469 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 2,713,000 76.02%

Results by region
Stamp in identity document of a white South African recording their participation in the 1983 constitutional reform referendum

A referendum on a new constitution was held in South Africa on 2 November 1983 in which the white population was given the opportunity to approve or reject the Constitution of 1983. This constitution introduced the Tricameral Parliament, in which Coloured and Indian South Africans would be represented in separate parliamentary chambers, while black Africans, who were the majority of South Africa's population, would remain unrepresented. The referendum passed with 66.3% of voters voting "Yes"; consequently the new constitution came into force on 3 September 1984.