A constitutional referendum was held in Antigua and Barbuda on 6 November 2018,^[1] the first referendum in the country's history.^[2] The proposed constitutional amendment, which ultimately failed to pass, would have made the Caribbean Court of Justice the final court of appeal, replacing the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.^[3] A quorum of 66.6 % of the valid votes in favour was required for the amendment to be approved.^[4]

Quick Facts Results, Choice ...

2018 Antiguan constitutional referendum

6 November 2018
Do you approve the Constitution Amendment Bill 2018, which is a bill for an act to alter the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda to terminate Her Majesty in Council (also known as the Privy Council) as the final court of appeal for Antigua and Barbuda and to replace it with the Caribbean Court of Justice (also known as the CCJ)?
Results
Choice Votes  % Yes 8,509 47.96% No 9,234 52.04% Valid votes 17,743 99.78% Invalid or blank votes 39 0.22% Total votes 17,782 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 52,999 33.55%

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Grenada also held a referendum on joining the CCJ on the same day; that vote also failed to pass.^[5][6]

Voters were asked to respond YES or NO to the following question:^[7]

Do you approve of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda (Amendment Bill 2018) which is a bill for an act to alter the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda to terminate Her Majesty in Council (also known as the Privy Council) as the final Court of Appeal for Antigua and Barbuda and to replace it with the Caribbean Court of Justice (also known as the CCJ)?

The final vote tally gave totals of 8,509 for the amendment and 9,234 against. Turnout was 33.6% of the electorate.^[8]