# 2011 Pará state division plebiscite

The 2011 Pará state division plebiscite was held on December 11, 2011, to decide whether the Brazilian state of Pará should be divided into three separate states: Pará, Carajás, and Tapajós. At the time, it was the largest regional plebiscite in Brazilian history.

## Plebiscite development

Prior to the plebiscite, there was debate over whether the vote should be limited to the proposed regions of Carajás and Tapajós or include the entire state of Pará. This uncertainty stemmed from questions regarding the constitutionality of Law No. 9,709/1998, which mandates statewide participation in plebiscites concerning territorial divisions. On August 24, 2011, it was decided that the entire population of Pará would participate in the vote, requiring majority support statewide for the creation of the new states.
In the calendar defined by the Superior Electoral Court, 2 September was the limit date for members of the Legislative Assembly of Pará, the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate to manifest themselves to compose one of the fronts of the plebiscite (for or against the creation of the two states). The registration of the two fronts would be protocoled in the Regional Electoral Court of Pará until 12 September.
The campaign for the creation of the two new states through the internet, flyers and sound cars began on 13 September. The first opinion polls could also be registered in the Electoral Court of Pará from this date.
The free campaign on radio and TV began on 11 November. The period of campaigning would finish three days before the plebiscite. On 23 November, the electronic polls were sealed and on 10 December, the campaign through speakers and sound amplifiers was finished. The distribution of printed materials was also prohibited from this date. The definitive result of the plebiscite was published only two hours after the end of the voting.
The voters who had the intention to participate in the plebiscite had to regulate their situation in the Electoral Justice of Pará until 11 September. In the polls, the residents of Pará answered to two questions: "Are you in favor of the division of the State of Pará for the creation of the State of Carajás?" and "Are you in favor of the division of the State of Pará for the creation of the State of Tapajós?"
For the creation of the new states, Tapajós would occupy 58% of the current territory of Pará and would have 27 municipalities, while Carajás would have 25% of the territory with 39 municipalities. The remaining territory would retain the name Pará and would keep 17% of the territory.
According to the Superior Electoral Court, the cost of the plebiscite surpassed R$19 million (about US$11,360,000 in 2011).

## Opinion polls

| Pollster/client(s) | Date(s) conducted | Sample size | Carajás | Carajás | Carajás | Carajás | Tapajós | Tapajós | Tapajós | Tapajós |
| Pollster/client(s) | Date(s) conducted | Sample size | Yes | No | Abst. Undec. | Lead | Yes | No | Abst. Undec. | Lead |
| 2011 plebiscite | 11 Dec | – | 33.4% | 66.6% | Abst. Undec. | Lead | 1.46% | 33.2% | Abst. Undec. | Lead | 33.92% | 66.08% | 1.49% | 32.16% |
| Datafolha | 6–8 Dec | 1,213 | 31% | 65% | 4% | 34% | 32% | 64% | 4% | 32% |
| Datafolha | 7–10 Nov | 880 | 33% | 58% | 8% | 25% | 33% | 58% | 10% | 25% |

## Results

Carajás creation plebiscite :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 2,363,561 | 66.60 |
| Yes | 1,185,546 | 33.40 |
| Valid votes | 3,549,107 | 98.54 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 52,742 | 1.46 |
| Total votes | 3,601,849 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,848,495 | 74.29 |
| Source: TSE |||
Statewide referendum results :
| No: 2,363,561 (66.6%) | Yes: 1,185,546 (33.3%) |
Tapajós creation plebiscite :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 2,344,654 | 66.08 |
| Yes | 1,203,574 | 33.92 |
| Valid votes | 3,548,228 | 98.51 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 53,621 | 1.49 |
| Total votes | 3,601,849 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,848,495 | 74.29 |
| Source: TSE |||
Statewide referendum results :
| No: 2,344,654 (66.08%) | Yes: 1,203,574 (33.92%) |