When a question providing for a referendum is introduced in the National Assembly, there are 18 days before the government issues a writ instituting the referendum. During that period, and of course once the writ is issued, we have a good idea of what the question will be. However, it can be amended during a 35-hour debate, which takes place in the 18 days between when the question is introduced in Parliament and when it is adopted. Obviously we work on preparing the rules we will ask the yes and no camps, the umbrella camps, to follow in presenting arguments for one option or the other. At the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, we make sure that each camp's text is fair and is written in somewhat the same way, and that the arguments are set out in somewhat the same order. That's what we do.
On December 1st, 2009. See this statement in context.