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1978 Austrian nuclear power referendum

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1978 Austrian nuclear power referendum

5 November 1978

Should the legislative resolution of the National Council of 7 July 1978 on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Austria (commissioning of the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant) become law?
Official ballot paper for the referendum
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,576,709 49.53%
No 1,606,777 50.47%
Valid votes 3,183,486 97.67%
Invalid or blank votes 75,996 2.33%
Total votes 3,259,482 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 5,083,779 64.12%

Results by state

A referendum on the use of nuclear power was held in Austria on 5 November 1978.[1][2] Voters were asked whether they approved a law allowing the peaceful use of nuclear power, particularly relating to the start-up of the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant.[3] Voters narrowly rejected it, with 50.5% voting against. As a result, although the Power Plant was finished, it never operated and has been repurposed for various projects over the years.[4]

Voter turnout was 64%.[3]

Zwentendorf power plant

Results

[edit]
ChoiceVotes%
For1,576,70949.53
Against1,606,77750.47
Total3,183,486100.00
Valid votes3,183,48697.67
Invalid/blank votes75,9962.33
Total votes3,259,482100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,083,77964.12
Source: Austrian Ministry of the Interior

By state

[edit]
State Choice Valid votes For Against
Votes % Votes %
Burgenland 187,879 124,384 74,377 59.8 50,007 40.2
Carinthia 355,219 217,911 117,481 54.1 100,070 45.9
Lower Austria 964,048 672,154 341,831 50.8 330,323 49.2
Upper Austria 809,904 537,965 254,337 47.3 282,628 52.3
Salzburg 277,141 165,523 71,576 43.2 93,947 56.8
Styria 793,746 452,423 238,851 52.8 213,572 47.2
Tirol 355,164 156,160 53,357 34.2 102,803 65.8
Vorarlberg 169,065 126,779 19,731 15.6 107,048 84.4
Vienna 1,171,613 730,187 404,808 55.4 325,379 44.6
Total 5,083,779 3,183,486 1,576,709 49.5 1,606,777 50.5

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p196 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Pelinka, Anton (1983). "The nuclear power referendum in Austria". Electoral Studies. 2 (3): 253–261. doi:10.1016/S0261-3794(83)80032-8. ISSN 0261-3794.
  3. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p207
  4. ^ "AKW Zwentendorf - Heute". Retrieved 1 April 2023.