2016 Lyncanestrian same-sex union plebiscite

2016 same-sex union plebiscite
Do you approve of a law limiting civil unions to be between a man and a woman?
Location	Lyncanestria
Date	6 July 2016
Results Votes % Yes 10,218,727 7001518300000000000♠51.83% No 9,496,846 7001481700000000000♠48.17% Valid votes 19,715,573 7001964700000000000♠96.47% Invalid or blank votes 721,237 7000353000000000000♠3.53% Total votes 20,436,810 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 39,840,803 7001513000000000000♠51.3%
Results by prefecture File:Lyncanestria plebiscite.png   Yes     No

A national plebiscite was held in Lyncanestria on 6 July 2016 to put the legality of same-sex unions up for a non-binding popular vote.

In 2014, the Liberal government had legalized civil unions for same-sex couples. In its electoral manifesto, the Conservative Party, which narrowly formed a coalition government following the 2014 elections, had criticized the passing of the law and indicated it would put the question of same-sex unions up for a popular vote.

Opinion polling on the matter had shown that the Lyncanestrian people were very divided on the matter, with public polls frequently showing tied results within the margin of error, and 50-50 splits were not uncommon.

The plebiscite resulted in a narrow victory for "yes" and while the vote was non-binding, the Conservative government quickly repealed same-sex unions in the following month. Previously-issued same-sex civil unions were also rescinded ex postfacto. Third-party observers criticized the Moulins government for holding the plebiscite on a Wednesday, which particularly hurt the "no" vote, as the urban, socially progressive-leaning voters were not afforded the weekday off to vote.