1918 Haitian constitutional referendum
12 June 1918
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 98,294 99.22%
No 769 0.78%

A constitutional referendum was held in Haiti on 12 June 1918.[1] Voters were asked to approve or reject a new constitution, which was imposed by the United States government.[2] It was approved by 99% of voters,[3] although less than 5% of the population voted.[2]

Background

Haiti was occupied by the United States in 1915. Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt claimed to have drafted a new constitution, which introduced direct election of the Senate, freedom of assembly and the press, and trial by jury.[2] Controversially it initially included a right for non-citizens to own land,[2] and for the American military to intervene in domestic politics.[4]

The National Assembly elected in 1917 refused to adopt the draft constitution and drafted one itself,[2] which excluded the right of non-citizens to own land.[4] While the Assembly was debating its draft, Major Smedley Butler interrupted the session to announce that President Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave had dissolved the legislature,[2] after he forced Dartiguenave to sign a decree to that effect.[4] As there was no legislature in place to adopt the document, it was decided to hold a referendum.[2]

Campaign

The American military government issued orders to arrest anyone publicly opposing adoption of the constitution.[2]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For98,29499.22
Against7690.78
Total99,063100.00
Source: Nohlen

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p381 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 George Athan Billias (2011) American Constitutionalism Heard Round the World, 1776–1989: A Global Perspective, pp242–244
  3. ↑ Nohlen, p387
  4. 1 2 3 Michael Largey (2006) Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism, p55
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