A six-part referendum was held in Palau on 2 November 2004 alongside the country's general elections. Voters were asked questions on summoning a Constitutional Convention, payment of members of the National Congress, creating a unicameral Congress, term limits for Congress members, election of the President and Vice President and dual citizenship. All proposals were approved except the unicameral Congress, which despite receiving a majority of the public vote, did not meet the quorum of 12 of 16 states required for amendments to the constitution.
Results Convening of a constitutional convention
ChoiceVotes%For5,08557.60Against3,74242.40Invalid/blank votes810–Total9,637100Registered voters/turnout13,19173.05Source: Direct Democracy
Congressional attendance Voters were asked whether they approved of a popular initiative to amend the constitution regarding the payment of members of the National Congress. The proposed amendment of article IX, section 8 would have read:
ChoiceVotes%StatesFor6'46674.3315Against2'59828.6715Invalid/blank votes -–Total9,06410016Registered voters/turnout13,191 –Source: Direct Democracy
Unicameral parliament ChoiceVotes%StatesFor5,08655.9911Against3,99744.015Invalid/blank votes -–Total9,08310016Registered voters/turnout13,191 –Source: Direct Democracy
Three-term limit for National Congress members A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to limit the number of terms a member of the National Congress could serve to three. The text would read:
ChoiceVotes%StatesFor5,60160.4313Against3,66739.573Invalid/blank votes -–Total9,26810016Registered voters/turnout13,191 –Source: Direct Democracy
Joint election of the president and vice president A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to elect the president and vice president together rather than separately. It would amend Article VIII, section 4 of the constitution to read:
ChoiceVotes%StatesFor5,33458.4214Against3,79541.582Invalid/blank votes -–Total9,12910016Registered voters/turnout13,191 –Source: Direct Democracy
Dual citizenship A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to allow Palauan citizens to hold dual citizenship, and give citizenship at birth to people with Palauan parents. The proposed wording was:
ChoiceVotes%StatesFor5,79162.5916Against3,46037.410Invalid/blank votes -–Total9,25110016Registered voters/turnout13,191 –Source: Direct Democracy
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