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" had taken place on October 21, 1860. The mainland provinces vote was 1,302,064 for and 10,312 against; Sicily voted 432,053 to 667 in favor. The results were accepted officially on November 7, 1860 and annexation took place by royal decree on December 17, 1860. (By John Osborne)