2003 Georgian constitutional referendum explained

2003 Georgian constitutional referendum
Country:Georgia
Are you for or against the reduction in the number of Georgian parliamentarians to 150 members?
Yes:1590309
No:184209
Invalid:123466
Electorate:3178593

A constitutional referendum was held in Georgia on 2 November 2003 alongside parliamentary elections. The constitutional changes proposed would reduce the number of seats in the next Parliament of Georgia from 235 to 150.

With almost 90% voting in favour,[1] the changes were first implemented following the 2008 Georgian legislative election.

Background

Prior to the referendum, citizens groups had gathered 218,000 signatures on a petition calling for a reduction in the number of MPs, higher than the 200,000 required for a constitutional initiative. On 3 September 2003 President Eduard Shevardnadze signed a decree approving the referendum.[1]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For1,590,30989.61
Against184,20910.39
Invalid/blank votes123,466
Total1,904,105100
Registered voters/turnout3,178,59363.89
align=left colspan=3Source: Direct Democracy

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=ge012003 Georgia 2, November 2003: Reduction of Parliament from 235 to 150 seats