A referendum on re-establishing the Empire was held in France on 21 and 22 November 1852. Voters were asked whether they approved of the re-establishment of the Empire in the person of Louis Napoléon Bonaparte and family. It was approved by 96.9% of voters with a 79.8% turnout.[1] As with other plebicites under Napoleon III (and Napoleon I), the result were rigged and only served to legitimize their rule under a false sense of democracy.[2][3]

All French men over the age of 21 were entitled to vote in a commune in which they had resided for six months. Algerians and Kanaks had no right to vote. The vote was secret with the exception of those serving in the military. However, the authorities only printed yes ballots - voters had to supply their own ballots with no.

Results

French constitutional referendum, 1851
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 7,824,189 96.9
No 253,145 3.1
Valid votes 8,077,334 99.2
Invalid or blank votes 63,326 0.8
Total votes 8,140,660 100.00

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp. 673, 683. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ↑ Doyle, William (2001). The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. Oxfod University Press. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-19-157837-3.
  3. ↑ Tierney, Stephen (2012). Constitutional Referendums: The Theory and Practice of Republican Deliberation. OUP Oxford. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-19-162908-2.
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