1918 Haitian constitutional referendum

12 June 1918

Results

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	98,294	99.22%
No	769	0.78%

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v t e

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


Choice	Votes	%
For	98,294	99.22
Against	769	0.78
Total	99,063	100.00

Source: Nohlen

References

^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p381 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h George Athan Billias (2011) American Constitutionalism Heard Round the World, 1776–1989: A Global Perspective, pp242–244
^ Nohlen, p387
^ ^a ^b ^c Michael Largey (2006) Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism, p55

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