1961 Somali constitutional referendum

1961 Somali constitutional referendum
20 June 1961
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 1,756,216 90.56%
No 183,000 9.44%
Valid votes 1,939,216 99.53%
Invalid or blank votes 9,132 0.47%
Total votes 1,948,348 100.00%

A constitutional referendum was held in Somalia on 20 June 1961 to vote on the new constitution for the country created the previous year by the union of the State of Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland. It was approved by 91% of voters.

In the territory of former State of Somaliland, the Somali National League (SNL) party encouraged a boycott of the referendum, and 60% of the approximately 100,000 votes from the area opposed the constitution.

The SNL boycott of the referendum stemmed mainly, not from disagreement with procedural or substantive aspects of the document, but rather from the disgruntlement of political leaders who had failed to gain tangible political rewards, especially in the new Somali cabinet. Outside of the Isaaq clan, which was the main base of support for the SNL, the constitution enjoyed near-universal support in the north by the Dir and Darod minorities. The majority Dir and Darod northern cities of Borama and Las Anod voted yes in the referendum, with approval rates of 96 percent and 82 percent, respectively.

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