A popular plebiscite in the central and southern provinces of Italy, including Sicily, to decide whether these areas should be taken into a united Italy "one and indivisible under Victor Emanuel, constitutional King" took place on this date. The mainland provinces vote was 1,302,064 for and 10,312 against; Sicily voted 432,053 to 667 in favor. The results were announced in early November and accepted officially on November 7, 1860. Annexation took place by royal decree on December 17, 1860. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Sarah Wambaugh, A Monograph on Plebiscites, with a Collection of Official Documents (New York, Oxford University Press, 1920), 631.