2016 Azerbaijani constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Azerbaijan on 26 September 2016. Voters were asked whether they approve of 29 constitutional amendments, with a separate vote on each one.[1] All 29 amendments were approved by between 89% and 95% of voters. It created the office of the Vice President and extended the presidential term from five to seven years.[2]

Background

President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on 18 July 2016, amending several articles of the constitution. These were reviewed by the Constitutional Court, who approved them on 25 July.[3] On 26 July Aliyev ordered that a referendum be held, as required by articles 152 and 153 of the constitution.[1]

Results

Amendment	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total	Registered voters	Turnout
	Votes	%	Votes	%
1	3,113,754	90.68	319,888	9.32	237,632	3,671,274	5,267,111	69.70
2	3,119,235	90.77	317,129	9.23	234,910	3,671,274		69.70
3	3,122,072	90.86	314,003	9.14	235,199	3,671,274		69.70
4	3,132,788	90.99	310,355	9.01	228,131	3,671,274		69.70
5	3,131,461	91.09	306,248	8.91	233,565	3,671,274		69.70
6	3,135,669	91.02	309,285	8.98	226,320	3,671,274		69.70
7	3,202,112	92.19	271,128	7.81	198,034	3,671,274		69.70
8	3,097,400	90.43	327,874	9.57	246,000	3,671,274		69.70
9	3,197,050	92.13	272,921	7.87	201,303	3,671,274		69.70
10	3,204,739	92.20	271,048	7.80	195,487	3,671,274		69.70
11	3,203,329	92.22	270,301	7.78	197,644	3,671,274		69.70
12	3,207,406	92.25	269,541	7.75	194,327	3,671,274		69.70
13	3,161,644	91.63	288,735	8.37	220,895	3,671,274		69.70
14	3,065,840	89.87	345,608	10.13	259,826	3,671,274		69.70
15	3,056,619	89.71	350,426	10.29	264,229	3,671,274		69.70
16	3,203,857	92.24	269,630	7.76	197,787	3,671,274		69.70
17	3,238,609	92.86	248,864	7.14	183,801	3,671,274		69.70
18	3,200,508	92.23	269,777	7.77	200,989	3,671,274		69.70
19	3,206,782	92.29	268,086	7.71	196,406	3,671,274		69.70
20	3,339,441	94.82	182,324	5.18	149,509	3,671,274		69.70
21	3,346,516	94.96	177,638	5.04	147,120	3,671,274		69.70
22	3,277,955	93.78	217,419	6.22	175,900	3,671,274		69.70
23	3,221,077	92.64	255,824	7.36	194,373	3,671,274		69.70
24	3,221,908	92.63	256,190	7.37	193,176	3,671,274		69.70
25	3,223,244	92.65	255,863	7.35	191,218	3,670,325		69.68
26	3,225,822	92.71	253,729	7.29	190,774	3,670,325		69.68
27	3,231,055	92.85	248,717	7.15	190,553	3,670,325		69.68
28	3,090,913	90.25	333,897	9.75	245,515	3,670,325		69.68
29	3,101,157	90.39	329,539	9.61	239,629	3,670,325		69.68
Source: Information Centre

Aftermath

Following the referendum, President Ilham Aliyev appointed his wife Mehriban Aliyeva as Vice-President.[2]

References

1. Azerbaijan, 26 September 2016: Composition of the Armed Forces Direct Democracy (in German)
2. Azerbaijan President Aliyev makes wife Mehriban his deputy BBC News, 21 February 2017
3. Azerbaijani Constitutional Court approves draft amendments to constitution APA, 25 July 2016