2008 Palauan referendum explained

A twenty-three-part referendum was held in Palau on 4 November 2008 alongside the country's general elections. Voters were asked questions on requirements of citizenship to hold office, government provision of primary school and health care, the definition of marriage and term limits for Parliament. Only the proposal permitting naturalization for certain adoptees failed to obtain the requisite majority of the vote and majority in 3/4th of the states.

Results

No dual citizenship for President

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to prohibit dual citizens from being eligible to hold the office of President or Vice President. It would amend Article VIII, Section 3 of the Constitution to read:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,614	78.73
Against	2,057	21.27
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,671	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	68.12
Source: Direct Democracy

Separate election of President and Vice President

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to permit the President and Vice President to be elected separately. It was meant to undo joint election, which was passed by referendum in 2004. It would amend Article VIII, Section 4 of the Constitution to read:

Choice	Votes	%
For	6,477	67.26
Against	3,152	32.74
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,629	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	67.83
Source: Direct Democracy

Definition of the inauguration of President and Vice President

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to specifically define the end date of a presidential and vice presidential term and the inauguration of a new one. It would add a new paragraph to Article VIII, Section 4 of the Constitution which read:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,727	82.51
Against	1,637	17.49
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,364	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.96
Source: Direct Democracy

Right to trial by jury for serious crimes

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to require a trial by jury for serious crimes. It would add a new section to Article IV of the Constitution which would read:

Choice	Votes	%
For	5,480	58.74
Against	3,848	41.26
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,328	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.71
Source: Direct Democracy

No dual citizens as members of Parliament

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to prevent dual citizens from being elected to Parliament. It would amend Article IX, Section 6 of the Constitution to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,376	80.84
Against	1,748	19.16
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,124	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	64.27
Source: Direct Democracy

Limits on compensation for members of Parliament

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to limit the compensation paid to members of Parliament. It would amend Article IX, Section 8 of the Constitution to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,373	78.66
Against	2,000	21.34
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,373	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	66.03
Source: Direct Democracy

Beginning and end of a legislative term

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to define the beginning and end of a legislative term. It would amend Article IX, Section 11 of the Constitution to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,727	82.79
Against	1,606	17.21
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,333	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.74
Source: Direct Democracy

No term limit for members of Parliament

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to repeal the parliamentary term limits amendment passed in 2004. It read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	5,610	59.98
Against	3,743	40.02
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,353	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.88
Source: Direct Democracy

Separation of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to separate the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court from the Trial Division. It would amend Article X Section 2 to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,095	76.43
Against	2,188	23.57
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,283	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.39
Source: Direct Democracy

Constitutional voting anytime

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to permit amendment of the constitution by referendum at any time, where referendums had previously been limited to taking place during general elections. It would amend Article XIV, Section 2 to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,285	79.63
Against	1,863	20.37
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,148	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	64.44
Source: Direct Democracy

Academic freedom at all levels

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to ensure a right to academic freedom in all institutions of higher learning. It would add a new section to Article IV to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,505	80.42
Against	1,827	19.58
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,332	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.74
Source: Direct Democracy

Dual citizenship with all possible states

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to ensure a right to academic freedom in all institutions of higher learning. It would amend the constitutional section on "Allowing Palauans Multiple Citizenship" to read as follows::

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,001	74.72
Against	2,368	25.28
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,369	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	66.00
Source: Direct Democracy

Naturalization for adoptees

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to permit adoptees to petition the government for naturalization. It would amend Article III, Section 4 to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	4,156	44.66
Against	5,149	55.34
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,305	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.54
Source: Direct Democracy

This was the only proposal among the package of twenty-three which failed.

Postal voting for citizens overseas

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to permit overseas Palauans to vote by absentee ballot. It would amend Article VII to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7373	78.98
Against	1,962	21.02
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,335	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.76
Source: Direct Democracy

Land acquisition for diplomatic purposes

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to permit foreign countries to acquire land for diplomatic purposes. It would amend Article XIII, Section 8 to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	5,736	61.31
Against	3,619	38.69
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,355	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.90
Source: Direct Democracy

Land acquisition for non-Palauans limited to 99 years

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to limit land ownership by non-Palauans to 99 years. It would amend Article XIII, Section 8 to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	5,726	61.21
Against	3,628	38.79
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,354	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.89
Source: Direct Democracy

Support for Palauan culture

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to require the government to support Palauan traditional culture. It would amend Article V, adding a new paragraph which read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,542	81.28
Against	1,736	18.72
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,278	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.36
Source: Direct Democracy

Marriage as between a man and a woman only

Voters were asked whether they approved of a popular initiative to amend the constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Article IV, Section 13 of the Constitution would be amended to read as follows:

!Choice!Votes!%|-|align=left|For||7,896||83.55|-|align=left|Against||1,554||16.45|-|align=left|Invalid/blank votes||-||–|-|align=left|Total||9,450||100|-|align=left|Registered voters/turnout||14,196||66.57|-|colspan=3 align=left|Source: Direct Democracy|}

Free primary school

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to require the government to provide free education for grades one through twelve. It would amend Article VI to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	8,026	85.94
Against	1,312	14.06
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,338	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.78
Source: Direct Democracy

Free preventive health care

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to require the government to provide free health care. It would add a new section to Article IV to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	8,042	86.47
Against	1,258	13.53
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,300	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	65.51
Source: Direct Democracy

Priority of Palauan before the English language in the Constitution

Voters were asked whether they approved of a popular initiative to amend the constitution to give the Palauan version priority of interpretation over the English version. Article XIII, Section 2 of the Constitution would be amended to read as follows:

!Choice!Votes!%|-|align=left|For||7,352||78.84|-|align=left|Against||1,973||21.26|-|align=left|Invalid/blank votes||-||–|-|align=left|Total||9,325||100|-|align=left|Registered voters/turnout||14,196||65.69|-|colspan=3 align=left|Source: Direct Democracy|}

Definition of territorial waters

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to define the nation's territorial waters. It would amend Article I, Sections 1 and 2 to read as follows:

Choice	Votes	%
For	7,331	81.33
Against	1,682	18.67
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	9,013	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	63.49
Source: Direct Democracy

Judicial Appointments Commission only Palauan citizens

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to require all members of the Judicial Nominating Commission to be citizens of Palau. It would amend Article 7 Chapter X to read as follows:

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Choice	Votes	%
For	6,947	77.78
Against	1,984	22.22
Invalid/blank votes	-	–
Total	8,931	100
Registered voters/turnout	14,196	62.91
Source: Direct Democracy