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1980 Chilean constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Chile on 11 September 1980.[1] The proposed new constitution would replace the 1925 constitution, and was approved by over two-thirds of voters.[2]

The referendum was controversial, as Chile was then being ruled by a military dictatorship, and it ensured that Augusto Pinochet would remain in power with a rule by decree until 1988, after which he was peacefully removed from power following a popular referendum.


A referendum held in 2020 after waves of popular protests approved the drafting of a new constitution. In September 2022, the proposed left-wing document was rejected, 62% to 38%.[3][4] Following a second process, in December 2023, a propsed right-wing replacement was rejected, 55.8% to 44.2%.[5] These outcomes effectively guaranteed the 1980 charter would remain in effect.[6]

Background[edit]

Under the rule of Augusto Pinochet, the Constitutional Commission (1973–1978) drafted a proposal for a new Chilean constitution.[7]

Electoral system[edit]

In the election, Chileans older than 18 years of age (including the illiterate and blind), as well as foreigners with legal residence in Chile older than 18 years of age who could prove their proper immigration status, were allowed to vote. Participation was obligatory except for those who were physically or mentally impaired or imprisoned.


To vote, the only document required was a certificate of identity issued by the Civil and Identification Registry Service. No electoral roll was prepared for the referendum,[2] and the previous one was expired by means of a decree of the Military Junta issued on November 13, 1973 and that authorized the Directorate of the Electoral Registry to disable said files, which resulted in their destruction in July 1974.[8][9][10]

Nazer A., Ricardo; Rosemblit B., Jaime (2000). . Mapocho (48). Revista de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales.

"Electores, sufragio y democracia en Chile: una mirada histórica"

Silva Bascuñán, Alejandro (1997). Tratado de Derecho Constitucional. Tomo III: La Constitución de 1980. Antecedentes y génesis. Santiago de Chile: Ed. Jurídica de Chile.  956-10-1178-6.

ISBN

Decree 3465 of August 8, 1980, Interior Ministry of Chile.

- Chile's Library of Congress (in Spanish)

Brief review of Chile's constitutional history

Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine (PDF file)

Official translation of the original 1980 Constitution

- Library of Congress of Chile (in Spanish)

Text of Chilean constitutions