Polling at the referendum took place on Thursday, 7th December, 1972, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. A referendum on the voting age took place on the same day.
The total number of votes recorded in favour of the proposal was 721,003 and the total number recorded against the proposal was 133,430. As the proposal was duly approved by the people, the Bill was signed by the President on 5th January, 1973, and promulgated as a law.
Result Summary
| Electorate: | 1,783,604 |
| Total Poll: | 903,659 |
| Percentage Poll: | 50.66% |
| Votes in favour of the proposal: | 721,003 |
| Votes against the proposal: | 133,430 |
| Invalid Ballot Papers: | 49,326 |