1978 Austrian nuclear power referendum

A referendum on the use of nuclear power was held in Austria on 5 November 1978.^[1][2] Voters were asked whether they approved a law allowing the peaceful use of nuclear power, particularly relating to the start-up of the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant.^[3] Voters narrowly rejected it, with 50.5% voting against. As a result, although the Power Plant was finished, it never operated and has been repurposed for various projects over the years.^[4]

1978 Austrian nuclear power referendum

5 November 1978
Should the legislative resolution of the National Council of 7 July 1978 on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Austria (commissioning of the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant) become law?
Official ballot paper for the referendum
Results
Choice Votes  % Yes 1,576,709 49.53% No 1,606,777 50.47% Valid votes 3,183,486 97.67% Invalid or blank votes 75,996 2.33% Total votes 3,259,482 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 5,083,779 64.12%
Results by state

Voter turnout was 64%.^[3]

Zwentendorf power plant

Results

Choice		Votes	%
For		1,576,709	49.53
Against		1,606,777	50.47
Total		3,183,486	100.00
Valid votes		3,183,486	97.67
Invalid/blank votes		75,996	2.33
Total votes		3,259,482	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		5,083,779	64.12
Source: Austrian Ministry of the Interior

By state

State	Choice	Valid votes	For		Against
			Votes	%	Votes	%
Burgenland	187,879	124,384	74,377	59.8	50,007	40.2
Carinthia	355,219	217,911	117,481	54.1	100,070	45.9
Lower Austria	964,048	672,154	341,831	50.8	330,323	49.2
Upper Austria	809,904	537,965	254,337	47.3	282,628	52.3
Salzburg	277,141	165,523	71,576	43.2	93,947	56.8
Styria	793,746	452,423	238,851	52.8	213,572	47.2
Tirol	355,164	156,160	53,357	34.2	102,803	65.8
Vorarlberg	169,065	126,779	19,731	15.6	107,048	84.4
Vienna	1,171,613	730,187	404,808	55.4	325,379	44.6
Total	5,083,779	3,183,486	1,576,709	49.5	1,606,777	50.5