2016 San Marino referendum

Four referendums were held in San Marino on 15 May 2016. Three of the four proposals were approved, including one to abolish the requirement for a vote to receive a quorum of 25% of eligible voters to vote yes to pass. A repeal of law 137, which related to economic development, was the only one rejected.

Proposals

The first referendum was to changing the voting system so that voters cast a vote for their preferred candidate, as opposed to the current system for voting for a party or coalition list.^[1][2]

The second referendum was to repeal law 137 which modified the 1992 law on economic development. Law 137 had previously been passed by parliament on 7 August 2015.^[3]

The third referendum was to abolish the quorum required for referendum proposals to be approved.^[4] The requirement had previously been lowered from 32% to 25%.^[5] The requirement had previously caused referendums that had a majority to fail due to low voter turnout.^[6]

The fourth referendum was to cap salaries for the public sector at €100,000 a years.^[7]

Background

Referendums in San Marino require 25% of eligible voters to vote yes to pass. People who are citizens of San Marino but live abroad can not vote. Despite this, referendums which affect them can be proposed.^[1][6]

Committees were allowed to campaign for and against the referendums beginning on 1 May 2016, fifteen days before the vote.^[8]

Results

Voting was held on 15 May 2016. Each referendum was held on its own ballot that had to be submitted individually.^[8] All but one referendum was approved. Following the passage of the third referendum, San Marino's quorum requirement was abolished.^[9]

Question	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total votes	Registered voters	Turnout	Quorum	Ref.
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Single preference voting	8,688	54.76	7,177	45.24	244	16,109	33,896	47.52	25.63	[10]
Repealing law 137	7,854	49.65	7,957	50.35	310	16,112		47.53	23.14	[11]
Abolishing the 25% quorum	9,274	58.58	6,558	41.42	279	16,111		47.53	27.36	[9]
Capping public sector salaries	10,093	63.63	5,770	36.37	250	16,113		47.54	29.78	[12]