About this election
Nauru, the world's smallest island nation, is preparing to hold a constitutional referendum, expected in 2026, on changes to its founding charter — most prominently a proposal to formally rename the country "Naoero", its name in the Nauruan language. In May 2026 Nauru's parliament approved the constitutional amendment by the required two-thirds majority, and under Nauru's constitution certain changes must then be ratified by the people in a national referendum before they take effect. This page explains Nauru's political system, the constitutional-review process behind the vote, and what the referendum would mean.
Nauru is a tiny Pacific republic of around 12,000 people on a single 21-square-kilometre island, making it the smallest republic and one of the smallest states in the world. Once among the wealthiest places per capita thanks to its phosphate deposits, it has faced severe economic challenges since those reserves were largely exhausted, and its public finances have at times depended heavily on external arrangements, including hosting an Australian offshore immigration-processing centre. Despite its size, Nauru is a sovereign member of the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum and runs a full parliamentary democracy.
Nauru is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral Parliament of 19 members elected from multi-member constituencies. Uniquely, Nauru uses the "Dowdall" system, a form of ranked voting in which candidates are scored by fractional values, for its elections. Parliament elects the president from among its own members, and the president serves as both head of state and head of government, appointing a cabinet from Parliament. Politics is not organised around strong national parties but around individuals, family and constituency networks, and governments can change through shifting parliamentary alliances. The judiciary and the constitution, adopted at independence from Australia in 1968, anchor the system.
Nauru has undertaken periodic reviews of its 1968 constitution, and some amendments require approval by referendum to come into force. The 2026 proposal centres on formally adopting "Naoero" as the country's name in its constitution and official identity — at home, regionally and at the United Nations — reflecting the name Nauruans use in their own language. Renaming and other constitutional adjustments of this kind must clear both the parliamentary supermajority, which has been obtained, and a popular referendum, which completes the process.
A "yes" vote would ratify the constitutional change and see the country's name and official symbols updated accordingly; a "no" vote would leave the existing wording in place. Because Nauru is so small, turnout and engagement are high relative to most democracies, and a national referendum is a significant civic event. The exact date is set by the authorities and may be confirmed closer to the time.
The key questions are the timing of the referendum, the precise scope of the constitutional changes put to voters, and the level of public support for the renaming and any accompanying amendments. As a small, close-knit polity, Nauru tends to debate such questions intensely at the community level, and the result will carry symbolic weight for national identity well beyond the island's size.
With an electorate of only a few thousand spread across the island's districts and constituencies, Nauru's votes are intimate, community-level affairs rather than contests of regional blocs. ElectioMap will display the national Yes/No result, and any available district-level figures, as they are released by the electoral authorities.
For its size, Nauru plays a notable role in international affairs. It is a full member of the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, and its single vote in international bodies has at times given it diplomatic weight out of proportion to its population — a factor in its relationships with larger powers, including its switch of diplomatic recognition between China and Taiwan. Economically, the legacy of phosphate mining has left much of the island's interior scarred, and the country has sought new sources of revenue, including hosting Australia's offshore asylum-processing arrangements and exploring options such as the sale of citizenship and deep-sea mining. These pressures form the backdrop to constitutional reform: a small nation weighing how to define its identity, manage its finances and assert its sovereignty. A referendum on the country's very name is, in that light, a statement about how Nauruans wish to be known to themselves and to the world.
This page will show the national referendum result as counting proceeds, once a date is confirmed. Figures are sourced from Nauru's electoral authorities, which administer and certify the vote.
Nauru is expected to hold a constitutional referendum on changes to its 1968 constitution, most prominently a proposal to formally rename the country "Naoero" — its name in the Nauruan language. Parliament approved the amendment by a two-thirds majority in May 2026; a referendum is required to ratify it.
Under Nauru's constitution, certain amendments must be ratified by the people in a national referendum before they take effect, even after Parliament has approved them by the required supermajority.
Nauru is a parliamentary republic with a 19-member Parliament elected by the unusual "Dowdall" ranked-scoring system. Parliament elects the president, who is both head of state and head of government. Politics is built around individuals and constituencies rather than strong national parties.
An exact date had not been fixed as of mid-2026 and will be confirmed by the authorities closer to the time. This page will update once the date is set.
With an electorate of only a few thousand, counting is very quick. The national Yes/No result will appear on this page as soon as voting concludes, sourced from Nauru's electoral authorities.
Compiled and reviewed by Bartłomiej Paruzel, Election Data Analyst, from official results. See our data methodology.