2018 Concordian republic referendum

Concordian republic referendum, 20 January 2018
A proposed law: To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Concordia and the Soryu as a republic with the King and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament. Do you approve this proposed alteration?'
Location	Concordia
Date	20 January 2018 (2018-01-20) - 30 January 2018 (2018-01-30)
Results Votes % Yes 154,956,442 7001496700000000000♠49.67% No 156,985,241 7001503300000000000♠50.33% Valid votes 311,941,683 7001998300000000000♠99.83% Invalid or blank votes 533,303 6999170000000000000♠0.17% Total votes 312,474,986 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 318,457,852 7001981200000000000♠98.12%

Preamble referendum
A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to insert a preamble. Do you approve this proposed alteration?
Location	Concordia
Date	20 January 2018 (2018-01-20)
Results Votes % Yes 101,786,859 7001326500000000000♠32.65% No 209,995,475 7001673509999900000♠67.35% Valid votes 311,782,334 7001997800000000000♠99.78% Invalid or blank votes 692,652 6999220000000000000♠0.22% Total votes 312,474,986 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 318,457,852 7001981200000000000♠98.12%

The Concordian republic referendum held on 20 January 2018 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Concordia. The first question asked whether Concordia should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament following a bi-partisan appointment model which had been approved by a half-elected, half-appointed Constitutional Convention held in 15 October 2017. The second question, generally deemed to be far less important politically, asked whether Concordia should alter the Constitution to insert a preamble. For some years opinion polls had suggested that a majority of the electorate favoured a republic. The popularity of Cameron Trump and the fast rise of the "Yes" campaign and apparent inability of the personalities of the "No" campaign to counter their message created an atmosphere of great uncertainty, both in the federal government and across Concordia.

Voting took place on the 20th of January 2018, and featured the largest voter turnout in Concordia's history (98.12%). In the unofficial count, the "Yes" campaign was carried by 5,452,121 votes. Trump proceeded to alter the Constitution and the Government the following day but massive protests rocked the country with the "No" campaign accusing the "Yes" campaign of electoral fraud. A re-voting on the referendum took place in 25 January 2018, in which the "No" campaign was carried by 2,028,799 votes (50.33%). The both sides appealed for an official counting of the votes.

The official recount began in the morning of 29 January 2018 in Washington-at-Columbia. The "No" campaign won the official recount by 2,028,799 votes (50.33%), as a result, the Government remained status quo.

Controversies arose during the referendum period in which there were several incidents of electoral fraud, in which most of the "Yes" campaign meddled with the ballots and some were seen swapping out "No" votes with "Yes" votes. When it was discovered, the voters were shocked at the fraud and many "No" supporters protested throughout the country. There also several controversies in which a few Imperial spies manipulated the votes with help from Trump's and the "Yes" campaigners.