1978 Ecuadorian constitutional referendum
{{infobox referendum
|date={{start date|1978|01|15|df=y}}
|country=Ecuador
|title=Do you want a new constitution or a revised version of the existing constitution?
|yes_text=New constitution
|no_text=Revised constitution
|yes=807,574
|no=582,556
|invalid=421,510
|electorate=2,088,874
|outcome=
}}
{{Politics of Ecuador}}
A constitutional referendum was held in Ecuador on 15 January 1978.[http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=ec011978 Ecuador, 15 January 1978: New or revised constitution] Direct Democracy {{in lang|de}} Voters were asked whether they wanted a new constitution or a revised version of the existing constitution. The former option was approved by 57% of voters, although around invalid votes accounted for a quarter of those cast, with many cast in protest at not having the option of returning to the 1945 constitution.
Background
Following a military coup in 1972, in 1976 the military government formed three commissions to assist with the transition back to civil rule. One group was to draft a new constitution, one was to revise the 1945 constitution, and one to create laws on political parties, local elections and the referendum.
Results
| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
!Choice !Votes !% | ||
| align=left|New constitution | 778,611 | 57.20 |
| align=left|Revised constitution | 582,556 | 42,80 |
| align=left|Invalid/blank votes | 450,473 | – |
| align=left|Total | 1,811,640 | 100 |
| align=left|Registered voters/turnout | 2,088,874 | 86.73 |
| align=left colspan=3|Source: [http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=ec011978 Direct Democracy] |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ecuadorian elections}}