Editorial for 16 February: People-initiated referendums

Section 70 of the Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009
states that voters can force a referendum on matters of national importance.

To force a referendum, a verifiable petition would have to
be signed by at least 25 per cent of registered Cayman Islands voters, which as
of 1 January, 2012, would be 3,794 people.

If a petition attracted the requisite number of signatures
and a referendum were held, it would take more than 50 per cent of persons
registered as electors to make the referendum binding on the government. Using
the number of registered voters on 1 January, 2012, it would require 7,588
people voting in favour of the referendum to make it binding. That figure is
even higher than the 7,045 that voted in favour of the new Constitution in
2009.

Voter turnout for a referendum is lower than for general
elections, not just in Cayman, but everywhere where voting is not required by
law. Here in Cayman, while 12,204 people (79.44 per cent of electors) cast
ballots in the general election in the 2009, only 11,244 people (73.20 per cent
of electors) cast ballots in the referendum on the new Constitution, which was
held at the very same time.

When referendums are held separately from general elections,
most jurisdictions have trouble even getting a 50 per cent turnout of
registered electors.

But let’s assume for argument’s sake that Cayman could get
the same turnout for a referendum held separately from a general election as it
could for the 2009 referendum held at the same time. In order for a
people-initiated referendum to pass, 7,588 of 11,109 electors – or 68.3 per
cent – would have to vote in favour of the referendum for it to pass. Even assuming
such a high turn out of electors, that figure would be virtually impossible to
attain on a contentious issue like single-members constituencies.

Although people should be encouraged to exercise their
democratic rights, referendums cost money and should really be reserved for
matters of national importance where there is a known general consensus. To do
otherwise is a waste of time and money, unless, of course, you’re a politician
trying to gain attention before the next general election.