2018 Antiguan constitutional referendum

6 November 2018

Do you approve the Constitution Amendment Bill 2018, which is a bill for an act to alter the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda to terminate Her Majesty in Council (also known as the Privy Council) as the final court of appeal for Antigua and Barbuda and to replace it with the Caribbean Court of Justice (also known as the CCJ)?

Results

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	8,509	47.96%
No	9,234	52.04%
Valid votes	17,743	99.78%
Invalid or blank votes	39	0.22%
Total votes	17,782	100.00%
Registered voters/turnout	52,999	33.55%

Politics of Antigua and Barbuda


Executive Monarch Charles III Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams Prime Minister Gaston Browne Cabinet
Legislative Parliament Senate President House of Representatives Speaker Leader of the Opposition
Judicial Magistrates' Courts Supreme Court High Court Court of Appeal Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Elections Recent elections General: 2014 2018 2023 Political parties
Administrative divisions Parishes and dependencies
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs Minister: E.P. Chet Greene Diplomatic missions of / in Antigua and Barbuda Passports Visa requirements Visa policy
Barbuda Barbuda Council Chairperson Vice Chairperson Secretary
Other countries
v t e

A constitutional referendum was held in Antigua and Barbuda on 6 November 2018, the first referendum in the country's history. The proposed constitutional amendment, which ultimately failed to pass, would have made the Caribbean Court of Justice the final court of appeal, replacing the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. A quorum of 66.6 % of the valid votes in favour was required for the amendment to be approved.

Grenada also held a referendum on joining the CCJ on the same day; that vote also failed to pass.

Question

Voters were asked to respond YES or NO to the following question:

Do you approve of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda (Amendment Bill 2018) which is a bill for an act to alter the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda to terminate Her Majesty in Council (also known as the Privy Council) as the final Court of Appeal for Antigua and Barbuda and to replace it with the Caribbean Court of Justice (also known as the CCJ)?

Results

The final vote tally gave totals of 8,509 for the amendment and 9,234 against. Turnout was 33.6% of the electorate.


Choice	Votes	%
For	8,509	47.96
Against	9,234	52.04
Total	17,743	100.00

Valid votes	17,743	99.78
Invalid/blank votes	39	0.22
Total votes	17,782	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	52,999	33.55
Source: ABEC

References

Residents urged to register ahead of planned referendum Antigua Observer, 14 August 2018
Still no date for referendum Antigua Observer, 15 March 2017
Antigua announces “non-stop” campaign ahead of CCJ referendum Jamaica Observer, 14 August 2018
Antigua and Barbuda, national Obligatory referendum - Amending the Constitution Navigator to Direct Democracy
ANTIGUA – Antigua and Grenada to hold CCJ Referendum in November Caribbean News Services, 2 July 2018
"Grenada: Prime Minister Mitchell disappointed at results". St. Lucia News Online. 6 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
"What you need to know for Referendum Day". The Daily Observer. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
2018 Referendum Results ABEC

v t e Elections in Antigua and Barbuda
General elections	1946 1951 1956 1960 1965 1971 1976 1980 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2018 2023
Barbuda Council elections	... 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023
West Indies elections	1958
Referendums	2018

Categories: