Quebec’s Sovereignty Referendum Ends With a Narrow No
On October 30, 1995, Quebec voters decided a referendum on sovereignty.
Published · Updated · 1 min read
A Close Referendum
On October 30, 1995, Quebec voters decided a referendum on sovereignty. The No side won with 50.58 percent of valid votes.
The Question’s Wording
The ballot linked sovereignty to an offer of a new economic and political partnership with Canada. Reducing it to a one-word slogan misses an important part of the proposal.
An Exceptional Turnout
Élections Québec records turnout of 93.52 percent. The participation level reflects how intensely the decision engaged the electorate.
What the Result Established
The proposal was defeated. The vote did not eliminate the political debate about Quebec’s future or settle every constitutional question.
Primary Results Matter
The electoral authority preserves the official question and statistics. Those records are a firmer starting point than a dramatic claim that the country was divided by an unverified handful of ballots.
Sources
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