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Questions about 1802 French constitutional referendum

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What was the result of the 1802 French constitutional referendum?

In the 1802 French constitutional referendum held on the 10th of May 1802, 3,653,600 voters approved the measure against only 8,374 who voted no. That represents a yes vote of 99.77% and a no vote of 0.23%.

What did the 1802 French constitutional referendum ask voters?

The question put to voters was: "Should Napoleon Bonaparte be consul for life?" A yes vote ratified a new Consulate constitution making Bonaparte First Consul for life.

Was the 1802 French referendum vote secret?

No. There was no secret ballot. Voters had to record their choice next to their own name in open registers, which exposed opponents of Bonaparte to potential police harassment.

How did turnout in the 1802 French referendum compare to the 1800 referendum?

Turnout in the 1802 referendum increased by more than 8 percentage points compared to the 1800 French constitutional referendum, with approximately 2.1 million additional voters casting a yes ballot.

How large was the electorate in the 1802 French constitutional referendum?

The electorate for the 1802 French constitutional referendum was approximately 7 million people. Of those, just over 3.6 million cast a recorded vote.

Why is the 1802 French constitutional referendum considered a success for the Napoleonic regime?

Given the level of turnout and the overwhelming yes majority, the 1802 referendum is regarded as a success for the Napoleonic regime. It gave formal popular legitimacy to Bonaparte's appointment as First Consul for life.