Iranian referendum, 1963

White Revolution referendum

"White Revolution of the Shah and the People":

Abolition of the landowner–tenant system by land reform
Nationalization of forests and pastures
Sale of government factories for the purpose of financing land reform
Reform of electoral laws
Creation of the Literacy Corps

The ballots for 'Yes' were white, while were negative ones were green

Location

Date

January 26, 1963

Results
	Votes	%
Yes	5,589,711	7001999300000000000♠99.93%
No	4,115	6998700000000000000♠0.07%
Valid votes	5,593,826	7002100000000000000♠100.00%
Invalid or blank votes	0	5000000000000000000♠0%
Total votes	5,593,826	100.00%
Registered voters/turnout	6,098,277	7001917300000000000♠91.73%

271,179 announced additional votes cast by women were counted separately but not considered in the official results

"White Revolution of the Shah and the People":

A referendum was held in Iran on 26 January 1963 by the decree of Mohammad Reza Shah, with an aim to show popular support for him, asking voters to approve or veto the reforms of the White Revolution.

Women were not officially allowed to vote, but were set up to vote at their own balloting counters and dedicated boxes, at the suggestion of Ministry of Agriculture Hasan Arsanjani. The results gave Iranian women the right to vote.

Despite the apparent benign nature of the proposals in the referendum, there was significant opposition. Opponents included major landowners, ulema and communists.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for boycotting the referendum as "un-Islamic".

National Front boycotted the referendum, criticizing that the measures did not come from the parliament.

Voters were asked six questions, but had only the option to vote yes or no to the total package.

Similar to the previous referendum, polling places lacked secrecy and there were two separate voting booths: one for the supporters and one for the opponents. "No sane man would enter the opposition booth", according to Mohammad Gholi Majd.

Following the referendum dissension and riots outbroke in almost all major urban areas, most significantly in Tehran and the city of Qom. The Shah gave orders to immediate suppression of the opposition and National Front, Freedom Movement, Tudeh Party and religious activists were imprisoned. The unrest made Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini the regime's principal opponent in the minds of most Iranians.

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Wikipedia