Australian referendum, 1974 (Democratic Elections)

The Constitution Alteration (Democratic Elections) 1974 was a question put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1974, and sought to modify the method of determining the size of electorates within each state, from being based on the number of voters in the total population to allow members of Parliament to be appointed by direct vote.

Results

Proposed law entitled "An Act to alter the Constitution so as to ensure that the members of the House of Representatives and of the parliaments of the states are chosen directly and democratically by the people".

Do you approve the proposed law?

Result

State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
				%		%
New South Wales	2,834,558	2,702,903	1,345,983	%50.55	1,316,837	%49.45	40,083
Victoria	2,161,474	2,070,893	970,903	%47.71	1,064,023	%52.29	35,967
Queensland	1,154,762	1,098,401	474,337	%43.70	611,135	%56.30	12,929
South Australia	750,308	722,434	310,839	%44.11	393,857	%55.89	17,738
Western Australia	612,016	577,989	241,946	%42.86	322,587	%57.14	13,456
Tasmania	246,596	237,891	95,463	%40.81	138,430	%59.19	3,998
Total for Commonwealth	7,759,714	7,410,511	3,439,471	%47.20	3,846,869	%52.80	124,171
Obtained majority in one State and an overall minority of 407,398 votes.
Not carried