When was the 1993 Russian constitutional referendum held?
The referendum was held on the 12th of December 1993. The new constitution came into force on the 25th of December 1993 after 58% of voters approved it.
Questions about 1993 Russian constitutional referendum
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What percentage of voters approved the 1993 Russian constitution?
58.43% of voters approved the new constitution, with 41.57% voting against. Total registered voters numbered more than 106 million, and official turnout was reported at 54.37%.
Why did Boris Yeltsin call the 1993 constitutional referendum?
Yeltsin had argued since 1992 that the 1978 constitution was obsolete. When the government and the Congress of People's Deputies failed to agree on a replacement, Yeltsin dissolved the Congress in September 1993, creating a constitutional crisis, then convened a Constitutional Assembly that drafted a constitution granting strong presidential powers.
Was the 1993 Russian constitutional referendum turnout disputed?
Yes. The official turnout was reported at 54%, just above the 50% threshold required to validate the result. Doubts arose because ballots and area tallies were quickly destroyed, making independent verification impossible.
What was the 1993 Russian constitutional referendum officially called?
It was officially named "nationwide voting" (vssenarodnoe golosovanie) in official documents, not a referendum. The constitution's own transitional provisions specified it would come into force based on the results of this nationwide voting.
Which Russian regions had the lowest support for the 1993 constitution?
Tatarstan recorded a turnout of only 13.88%, the lowest in the federation. Chechnya reported no results at all. Dagestan voted against the constitution, with 79.14% opposing it.