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A referendum was held on Friday 2 August 3024 on the question of whether the nation of Wiltshire should adopt a constitutional monarchy. The referendum was scheduled as part of the peace accord, struck between the Balancín Crown and the parliamentary government of Wiltshire at the end of the Wiltshire Civil War. Within the agreement, a Wiltshirian state was to succeed the Wiltshire Sixth Republic and the question of whether that country would adopt the Balancín Monarchy or remain a republic was put to a nationwide referendum. Regardless of the result of the referendum, the Balancín Crown was to hold total control over Wiltshire's military and foreign policy as part of the Balancía-Wiltshire military union.
Most political parties announced support for republicanism, including the Republicans, the Wiltshire Labour Party, and the Ecologists. The Socialist Party remained officially neutral on the matter, stating that its focus was on social and economic problems rather than constitutional ones. Kaitiaki Ropu, the party of Lorikeet, announced that they would support the monarchy provided that it held no power of government in Wiltshire, though the decision caused a number of Kaitiaki Ropu members to defect to Labour. The Conservative Democrats proclaimed support for the monarchy as part of the 'Federal Kingdom' compromise.
The referendum campaign was heavily dominated by external forces. A significant campaign, funded by benefactors within the New Almere Republic, rallied for republicanism, while a Balancín-funded campaign received the backing of the Lancastrian monarchy and the Pontifical Church.
Question
The question in the referendum was settled by the Referendum in Wiltshire Act 3024, which was passed by the Balancín Parliament and given royal assent by the Witan on 24 July 3024. The question read:
"Do you support a republican form of government or a democratic constitutional monarchy?"
There was criticism of the question for the inclusion of the descriptor "democratic" on the constitutional monarchy section, with some believing that it would skew democrat voters towards supporting the idea of the constitutional monarchy. Defenders of the question noted that it was important to clarify that voting for a constitutional monarchy wasn't a vote against a democratic form of government.
Despite the discussion, the question stood, and ballot papers were printed and distributed by the Wiltshire Elections Authority (WEA) prior to the referendum.
Campaign
Political positions
In support of a monarchy
Parties
- Conservative Democrats
- Kaitiaki Ropu
- Social Credit
In support of republicanism
Parties
- The Republicans
- Ecologists
- Walkerton Nationalpartei
- Restore!
- Wiltshire Labour Party
- Minevgrad Independence Party
Individuals
- Sonya Inyo, former Wiltshire Prime Minister and President of the Republic
- Gaius Selan, former President of the Republic
- Luke Ford, former Deputy Prime Minister
- Mitchell Crawley, former Wiltshire Prime Minister
Neutral
Parties
- CD/R Union
- Socialist and People's Action Party
Individuals
- Jan Rau, Prime Minister of Wiltshire
- Markus Horst, Attorney General
- Eli Attlee, candidate for Socialist leader