Section 128 of the Constitution stipulates that the Constitution
may only be altered by referendum, and that a proposed alternation
of the Constitution must receive the support of a majority of all
electors voting, and a majority of votes in a majority of states,
that is, four out of the six states. This is known as the "double
majority."
Up to the 1919 referendum, the expression "turnout" refers to the
number of ballot papers issued. For these referendums there is a
discrepancy between this figure and the number of votes recorded,
presumably the result of some voters receiving a ballot paper but
not casting a vote. From the 1926 referendum the "turnout" figure
refers to the sum of the formal and informal votes cast. |