neutrality • impartiality • transparency • professionalism • inclusivity

NOTICE: This is a non-active, static archived website. The Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) formally wound up operations in accordance with its Charter on 31 May 2020. This site remains as an archive of all BRC public information regarding the conduct of the Bougainville referendum. It is hosted by the National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea as a record of an historic national event.

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Referendum result

Number of votes for Greater Autonomy: 3,043 Number of votes for Independence: 176,928 Number of informal ballot papers: 1,096 Total number of ballot papers counted: 181, 067

Referendum is one of the pillars of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA). The BPA declares that in the Constitution of the Papua New Guinea National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) is guaranteed a non-binding referendum on Bougainville’s political future to be held amongst Bougainvilleans. This was conducted by the BRC, the independent agency established by the two governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville to conduct the referendum, between 23 November and 7 December 2019. The BRC announced the result on 11 December, and returned the referendum writ to the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea on 13 December 2019.

The agency responsible for conducting the referendum

The Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) was established through the BRC Charter, issued by the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea on 30 August 2017, signed in the presence of delegates from both governments of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville. The formation of the BRC as an independent and impartial entity was agreed upon by the National Executive Council, the Bougainville Executive Council and the Attorney General.

The BRC is responsible for the conduct of the referendum.