For Clarity: The two options on the Crimean referendum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_status_referendum,_2014


There will be two options to choose from on the ballot with voters able to choose only one of them. The options, in synthesis, reflect the following stances:[30][31][32]

Option 1: Do you support Crimea joining Russian Federation as a federal subject?

Option 2: Do you support restoration of 1992 Crimean Constitution and Crimea's status as a part of Ukraine?

The referendum will be decided by a simple majority with the option with the most votes declared winner.[d] Although the ballot uses question marks to portray the options, answers will not be given in the yes or no format. Instead, voters will be able to mark only one option, with ballots casted for both options declared invalid and therefore removing any possibility of a tie between the two. The ballots will also lack an against all option with voters forced to choose either one option or the other. The referendum text does not allow voters to vote for the status quo.[34] Media outlets have reported different translations for each option and labeled them as "questions" which has created some confusion and inconsistencies on the matter.[31][32]

The Ukrainian city of Sevastopol, which is also located in the Crimean peninsula but administered separately from the Crimean republic, will also be included in the referendum process.[31] However, on 6 March 2014, Sevastopol unilaterally declared itself a federal subject of the Russian Federation.[35]

The ballot is even more confusing as it is unclear as to which version of the 1992 constitution does it refer to.[original research?] This is because in 1992 the republic initially had a version that stipulated that Crimea was "an independent state" but it then ratified a second version one day later that stipulated that Crimea "was a part of Ukraine".[e][1]

The ballot will be printed in three languages: Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar (with Cyrillic script).[37]