2020 Sapmi Independence Referendum (ESPLAR)

On July 4, 2020, the Sapmi regions of Norway, Sweden, and Finland-Karelia will hold a joint binding independence referendum to determine the fate of these regions in these three countries, and whether they will form an independent country as Sapmi. The required threshold for passage is 55%, and all three regions must pass the threshold for it to be declared a valid "yes" vote.

The referendum on Sapmi independence was first advocated by Altruran-born Sapmi driver Kalla Mjaari during the 2019 ESPLAR Elite Series season, in which his mission was to support the Sapmi mission of self-determination. His calls for a binding referendum became a rallying cry for the approximately 6.8 million Sapmi living in Nordic Sapmi and abroad to rally for a referendum, to which all three of Finland-Karelia, Norway, and Sweden agreed to on December 26, 2019 (Supreme courts in all 3 countries declared the referendum legal in February 2020). Together, the three Sapmi regions comprise approximately 56% of the Sapmi population (of which make up around 78% of the total population of the three regions), most of whom live in Rovaniemi, Murmansk-Kevalopi, the tourist center of Hammerfest, Bådåddjo, and Lulea.

If the referendum is successful and a yes vote achieved, the three regions will immediately enter negotiations with ascension to the Nordic Union, the European Union, and the United Nations; only then will a transition to independence for Sapmi be completed after general elections in October of the same year.

## Results

The referendum is entirely done on paper ballots.

By District

The Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish-Karelian parts of Sapmi easily passed the 55% threshold required for verification of Sapmi independence, with results declared on July 6th, two days after voting. Many regions also passed 55% yes votes, with the closest districts being Rana in Nordland and the Giepma and Duortnus districts in Finland; Rana being home to a large working class population who (for the most part) support union with Norway, while Giepma and Duortnus have large Finnish minority populations who also support union with Finland-Karelia. The Kola Peninsula, home to a sizeable Russian minority, were evenly split on this issue; since Murmansk would be in a separate district away from the at-large Kola Peninsula district if Sapmi was to gain independence, thus significant numbers voted yes. Many Saami abroad also participated in the vote, including Kalla Mjaari, however these were counted post-referendum and were added post-results.

## Aftermath

Sapmi officially declared independence on October 20, 2020, coinciding with general elections across Sapmi on October 24. Negotiations with the Nordic countries, Finland-Karelia and the European Union began immediately. Over the next 3 months, negotiations for ascension as a member of the European Union, Nordic Union and the United Nations proceeded smoothly, only for it to be rudely interrupted by the BNV20 virus pandemic which halted negotiations for almost a year. Sapmi fared much better than much of the world in their handling of the pandemic.

Once the BNV20 pandemic passed in April 2022, Sapmi became a member of both the United Nations and the European Union, but kept its *Anár* currency after a referendum to adopt the Euro failed. Sapmi also became an official member of the ESPLAR Finno-Ugric Racers Association (FURA) to help advance cultural ties between the member states in the nation's participation in the series.