A series of unofficial referendums on native rights and good governance was held in Mexico on 21 March 1999.^[1] It was organised by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), who proposed the government function in the interests of the people,^[2] that the country demilitarize in order to promote peace,^[3] that indigenous Mexicans be fully included in national life^[4] and have their rights recognized in the constitution.^[5] While all these measures passed overwhelmingly, only around 2.5 million people voted in the referendum, while 37 million people voted in the general election the following year.