Referendum 2012 on adopting a system of single member constituencies concluded with neither ‘Yes’ nor ‘No’ votes achieving a binding result.

Official results from the Elections Office Referendum Command Centre indicate 8,677 of the 15,161 registered voters, or 57.23 per cent, cast Referendum ballots (including mobile and postal ballots). Overall, 5,631 voted ‘yes’ while 3,001 voted ’no’ and there were 45 spoiled ballots.

Of the total who voted, 37.14 per cent said yes and 19.79 per cent said no. In either case, this is less than the required 50 per cent plus one.

The district breakdown is as follows:

Bodden Town: 3,467 total registered voters; 2,021 polled; 8 spoiled; 1,396 yes; 617 no;

West Bay: 3,685 registered voters; 2,093 voted; 13 spoiled; 1,027 yes; 1,053 no;

George Town: 5,911 registered voters; 3,367 polled; 14 spoiled; 2,360 yes; 993 no;

Cayman Brac and Little Cayman: 956 registered voters; 461 polled; 2 spoiled; 256 yes; 203 no;

North Side: 551 registered voters; 397 voted; 6 spoiled; 335 yes; 56 no;

East End: 588 registered voters; 337 polled; 1 spoiled; 257 yes; 79 no.

The official count got underway at approximately 7:00 pm (Wednesday, 18 July) and finished shortly before midnight.

Cayman Islands premier said after the referendum votes were announced that:

1. “The results are binding, the referendum has failed”.
2. “The constitution plainly states that, to reach a majority, 50 per cent plus one of the total electorate would have to vote yes, and that had not happened. Therefore, even though the majority of people who cast ballots voted yes, according to the constitution, the no vote prevails.”
3. “The people of Cayman have said clearly that this country has other more urgent and important national issues than single member constituencies”.
4. “I would have liked to have seen more people vote no in the referendum, but I had expected a low turnout all along.”
5. “My government will give no further consideration to the possibility of single member constituencies. Why should we?”

Opposition leader, Alden McLaughlin said:

1. “I believe we have a clear indication now that the majority of people who   are interested in the issue would prefer a system of single-member constituencies with one man, one vote. I am very encouraged by the results in West Bay. It was almost even.”
2. “If the system had been fair, if the referendum process as indicated by the Government had been fair, I have no doubt it would have been successful.”

North Side Independent MLA Ezzard Miller said:

“I am grateful and satisfied that the good people of North Side came and

exercised their democratic privilege. I am also pleased that such a large

majority voted ‘yes’. I look forward to continuing to work with and for the

people of North Side to improve our community and Cayman.”