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National referendums in Chile

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Since 1925, Chile has conducted eight national referendums. The first modern referendum in 1925 led to the adoption of a new constitution. Over the years, referendums have covered topics such as the legitimacy of General Augusto Pinochet's rule and the adoption of new constitutions in 1980, 2022, and 2023. The current constitution, enacted in 1980, stipulates that binding referendums are required only in specific circumstances, such as when a constitutional reform is fully vetoed by the President and then re-approved by Congress. To date, this presidential power has not been used.

List of referendums

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Year Referendum Turnout Yes No Neither Result
1812 Adoption of a provisional political constitution Approve
1817 Independence proposal Approve
1818 Adoption of a provisional political constitution Approve
1925 Adoption of a new political constitution 45.4% 94.8% 4.1% 1.2% Approve
Year Referendum Turnout Yes No Null Blank Result
1978 Legitimacy of Gen. Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship a 78.6% 21.4% 4.6% Approve
1980 Adoption of a new political constitution a 69.0% 31.0% 2.8% 1.3% Approve
1988 Continuance of Pinochet's rule 97.5% 44.0% 56.0% 1.3% 1.0% Reject
1989 Constitutional reforms 93.7% 91.3% 8.7% 4.6% 1.5% Approve
2020 On whether a new constitution should be drafted 51.0% 78.3% 21.7% 0.4% 0.2% Approve
Year Referendum Turnout MCC CC Null Blank Result
2020 On what kind of body should write the new constitution 51.0% 21.0% 79.0% 3.4% 1.6% Constitutional Convention
Year Referendum Turnout Yes No Null Blank Result
2022 Adoption of a proposed constitution 85.8% 38.1% 61.9% 1.5% 0.6% Reject
2023 Adoption of a proposed constitution 84.5% 44.2% 55.8% 3.7% 1.3% Reject

a There was no electoral roll for this referendum.
Note: The percentages used in the "Yes", "No" and "Neither" columns are over the total of valid votes in each referendum. The percentages used in the "Null" and "Blank" columns are over the total votes cast in each referendum.

Current legislation

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The 1980 constitution allows for binding referendums only when a constitutional reform passed by Congress is fully vetoed by the President and then re-approved by a two-thirds majority in both chambers. In this case, the President can either sign the reform into law or call for a referendum. So far, no President has used this power.

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