Australian referendum, 1974 (Simultaneous Elections)

Elections to the House and the Senate are usually held simultaneously although this was a matter of convention rather than constitutional law. Constitution Alteration (Simultaneous Elections) 1974 proposed to enshrine simultaneous elections in the Constitution. The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1974.

Results

Proposed law entitled "An Act to alter the Constitution so as to ensure that Senate elections are held at the same time as House of Representatives elections".

Do you approve the proposed law?

Result

State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
				%		%
New South Wales	2,834,558	2,702,903	1,359,485	%51.06	1,303,117	%48.94	40,301
Victoria	2,161,474	2,070,893	1,001,111	%49.19	1,033,969	%50.81	35,813
Queensland	1,154,762	1,098,401	481,092	%44.32	604,444	%55.68	12,865
South Australia	750,308	722,434	332,369	%47.14	372,666	%52.86	17,399
Western Australia	612,016	577,989	248,860	%44.07	315,786	%55.93	13,343
Tasmania	246,596	237,891	96,793	%41.37	137,156	%58.63	3,942
Total for Commonwealth	7,759,714	7,410,511	3,519,710	%48.30	3,767,138	%51.70	123,663
Obtained majority in one State and an overall minority of 247,428 votes.
Not carried

See also: Australian referendum, 1974 (Simultaneous Elections), Australia, Australian Constitution, Australian plebiscite, 1916, Australian plebiscite, 1917, Australian referendum, 1906, Australian referendum, 1910, Australian referendum, 1911