The voting method caused significant confusion with many people not understanding that they had to vote no to be able to divorce or vote " YES " to outlaw divorce . Some campaigners from the no camp stated without this confusion the no vote might have even been higher than the 59 % obtained . ( See double negative . ) The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 held in April of that year was not transmitted on the Italian state television channel RAI because of Italy 's entry , a song by Gigliola Cinquetti . Despite the contest taking place more than a month before the planned vote , and despite Cinquetti eventually winning second place , Italian censors refused the contest and song to be shown or heard . RAI censors felt the song , titled " Sì " ( Italian for " yes " ) and containing lyrics constantly repeating the word " Sì " , could be accused of being a subliminal message and a form of propaganda to influence the Italian voting public to vote yes in the referendum . The song remained censored on most Italian state television and radio stations for over a month
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
1974 Italian divorce referendum