|
total countries/territories: 127
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Afghanistan
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/27
|
|
Albania
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/02
|
|
Algeria
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Articles 165, and 168 to 171, Electoral Law
|
2005/04/29
|
|
American Samoa
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Andorra
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/26
|
|
Anguilla
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/30
|
|
Argentina
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Armenia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/03/30
|
|
Australia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
|
2006/10/30
|
|
Austria
|
c. No
|
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Azerbaijan
|
c. No
|
1.1.1. Referendum is defined in the Constitution as "voting of the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan on issues stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan."
Source:
Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Art. 1.1.
https://www.legislationline.org/download/id/7885/file/Azerbaijan_Election_am2017_en.pdf
|
2022/02/07
|
|
Bahamas
|
c. No
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (CCB)
|
2006/11/15
|
|
Bahrain
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
The King may conduct a popular referendum on important laws and issues connected with the interests of the State. The issue on which the referendum has been held is considered to have been agreed upon if approved by a majority of those who cast their votes. The result of the referendum shall be binding on all and effective from the date it is declared and it shall be published in the Official Gazette
Source:
Article 43 of Constitution
|
2005/05/01
|
|
Belarus
|
d. Not applicable
|
Belarus is a unitary state
Source:
Art 1 Constitution
|
2005/03/25
|
|
Belgium
|
c. No
|
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Belize
|
c. No
|
Source:
1981 Constitution, updated through 1988 reforms.
|
2005/10/13
|
|
Benin
|
c. No
|
Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi, lecturer in law at the University of Benin (Cotonou).
Constitution, Articles 4 and 58.
|
2008/02/26
|
|
Bolivia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
|
2006/10/31
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/04
|
|
Botswana
|
c. No
|
c) Botswana is a unitary state.
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Bulgaria
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/03
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Cambodia
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
b. Yes, in some regions/states/provinces
|
b) Referenda at the provincial and territorial level are conducted under respective provincial and territorial legislation. For further information, please see The Compendium of Election Administration in Canada at www.elections.ca.
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Cape Verde
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Chile
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Colombia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/05/25
|
|
Costa Rica
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/10/08
|
|
Croatia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Cyprus
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Czech Republic
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
c. No
|
Source:
DOGOU ALAIN, Rapporteur de la sous commission des operations electorales de la COMMISSION ELECTORALE INDEPENDANTE
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Denmark
|
c. No
|
|
2015/06/12
|
|
Dominican Republic
|
c. No
|
Source:
2002 Constitution.
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Ecuador
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Constitución Política: Arts., 103, 104 y 105
|
2005/04/25
|
|
Egypt
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Article 62, Constitution
Article 1, Political Rights Law
|
2005/05/17
|
|
El Salvador
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Only considered for the project of the partial or full reconstruction of a Centroamerican Republic.
Source:
C: 73 and 89.
|
2007/09/26
|
|
Eritrea
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Eritrean referendum proclamation no. 22/1992
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Estonia
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Ethiopia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/09/12
|
|
Finland
|
c. No
|
Finland has referendums only at national level or at local level.
Source:
The Constitution (731/1999)
Local Government act (365/1995)
|
2005/04/13
|
|
France
|
c. No
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 72-1;
General Code of Local Authorities, Art. LO1112-1 to LO1112-7
|
2012/05/03
|
|
Gambia
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/09
|
|
Georgia
|
b. Yes, in some regions/states/provinces
|
|
2024/07/24
|
|
Germany
|
c. No
|
|
2005/04/13
|
|
Ghana
|
c. No
|
|
2005/10/14
|
|
Greece
|
c. No
|
|
2012/04/13
|
|
Guam
|
c. No
|
Source:
Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director, Guam Election Commission
|
2007/01/10
|
|
Hungary
|
c. No
|
|
2006/12/01
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
c. No
|
Mandatory referendums only occur for Constitutional Ammendments
Source:
Constitution of The Islamic Republic of Iran (1989), Art. 177 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989.pdf
Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
|
2016/01/23
|
|
Iraq
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD
|
2007/01/03
|
|
Ireland
|
c. No
|
Source:
Official Website of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/Voting/Referenda/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,1893,en.pdf (2012)
|
2012/05/10
|
|
Israel
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
On a regional level, a referendum must be called to create or modify regions (it is mandatory to have the majority of the votes of the population in that region).
Source:
Constitution, Art. 132
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Jamaica
|
c. No
|
Source:
1962 Constitution with reforms through 1999.
|
2005/10/14
|
|
Japan
|
c. No
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Jordan
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution
|
2005/05/01
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/04
|
|
Kenya
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/30
|
|
Kiribati
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Constitution
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Korea, Republic of
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Local Referendum Act
|
2007/01/03
|
|
Latvia
|
c. No
|
Source:
Constitution, 1922; Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Lebanon
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 76 to 79, Constitution
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Lesotho
|
c. No
|
In Lesotho, a referendum can only take place at a national level and not provincial or district levels. This is partly because Lesotho is not a federal state with relatively autonomous regions/provinces/states.
Source:
The 1993 Constitution
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Liberia
|
d. Not applicable
|
within the preas....... of the constitution is it stated that the power is inherent in the people, who if the so deem may alts.... then government
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
d. Not applicable
|
In Liechtenstein, regional, state or provincial levels do not exist.
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
c. No
|
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
Government levels in Macedonia consist of national level and municipalities only.
|
2020/04/23
|
|
Madagascar
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Barry Mason:Secession threatened in Madagascar 11 May 2002
|
2005/08/25
|
|
Malawi
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Malaysia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution article 118
|
2005/06/03
|
|
Malta
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
|
2006/11/22
|
|
Mauritius
|
c. No
|
Source:
Questionnaire, Electoral Management Body
|
2007/06/01
|
|
Mexico
|
b. Yes, in some regions/states/provinces
|
Mexico is a federal state where each of the 31 states and the Federal District are free to adopt direct democracy instruments for their own jurisdictions. Only in the state of Veracruz, referendum is mandatory to approve reforms to the local Constitution.
Source:
Constitutions and electoral legislations of the 31 states and the Federal District.
|
2005/10/13
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Morocco
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Article 109, Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Mozambique
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Namibia
|
c. No
|
Namibia is a unitary state.
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Netherlands
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/08/19
|
|
Niger
|
c. No
|
Source:
Constitution articles 6, 49, 134, 135, 13
6, 137 de la constitution et Pr Niandou Souley Abdoulaye
|
2006/12/30
|
|
Nigeria
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
C:8 "(1) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new State shall only be passed if - [...] (b) a proposal for the creation of the State is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the State originated; (c) the result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the States of the Federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly;"
Source:
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, art. 8(1)
|
2006/12/30
|
|
Norway
|
c. No
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Palestine
|
d. Not applicable
|
Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:
Electoral Commission Palestine
|
2007/06/11
|
|
Panama
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Constitution: 239.
Electoral Law: 369.
|
2007/10/01
|
|
Peru
|
c. No
|
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Philippines
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Art. X, Sec. 3, Constitution
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Poland
|
c. No
|
Source:
Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003
Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003
and
Mr. Henryk Bielski, specialist of the National Electoral Office
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Portugal
|
c. No
|
|
2012/04/20
|
|
Puerto Rico
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
The referendum is mandatory in case of making up municipalities.
Source:
Constitution: Article IV section 1.
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Romania
|
c. No
|
Source:
Law on referendums, 2000, article 2 and 13-14.
|
2005/03/20
|
|
Russian Federation
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Theoretically it is possible according to the Constitution and federal acts, but if it is also practically possible or not it depends on legal acts of the specific Subject.
Source:
Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(2)
|
2005/03/19
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
d. Not applicable
|
Referendums are optional.
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Senegal
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Tanor Tandhiela Fall
|
2005/06/05
|
|
Seychelles
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Election laws chapter 68A section 58(2)
|
2005/03/23
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
SECTION 33 OF 1991 CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE
|
2005/06/09
|
|
Singapore
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Constitution, article 5A (5)
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Slovakia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Slovak Republic (1992), Art. 67(1); The Act on self-administration of the higher regional units (2001), 15
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
c. No
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
The law of the referendum constitution of the republic of Somalia articles 1 and 6
|
2005/04/13
|
|
South Africa
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Spain
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
|
2012/04/18
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
c. No
|
|
2016/02/15
|
|
Sudan
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Article 66 and 128, Constitution and Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Swaziland
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Sweden
|
c. No
|
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Switzerland consists of 26 cantons which have different direct democracy instruments.
Source:
Legal sources: cf. Constitutions, Laws and Regulations of the 26 cantons. Links to the cantons: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/schweiz/kantone/index.html.
Kaufmann, Bruno, et. al. (Ed.): Guidebook to Direct Democracy in Switzerland and Beyond, Amsterdam 2005 (cf. www.iri-europe.org), p. 132-135
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Taiwan
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2020/03/31
|
|
Togo
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Code electoral 2005 .Constitution 1992 modifiee en 2002 article 4 alinea 3 et Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin.
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Tonga
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/09/15
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
c. No
|
Source:
1976 Constitution with reforms through 2000.
|
2015/05/22
|
|
Tunisia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Turkey
|
c. No
|
Source:
Art 175, 104 Constitution
|
2015/06/01
|
|
Uganda
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
http://www.africaaction.org/docs00/ugan0004.htm
|
2005/08/24
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
c. No
|
|
2012/05/09
|
|
United States of America
|
b. Yes, in some regions/states/provinces
|
The constitutions of 24 states, the District of Columbia and many local and city governments provide for referendums.
Source:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=The+constitutions+of+24+states%2C+the+District+of+Columbia+and+many+local+and+city+governments+provide+for+referendums.&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
|
2024/10/15
|
|
Uruguay
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Articulo 304 (inc.1°) de la Constitución.
|
2006/04/12
|
|
Uzbekistan
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
|
2009/08/18
|
|
Vanuatu
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Electoral Commission of Vanuatu
|
2016/01/27
|
|
Venezuela
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Art 344, Constitución
|
2006/04/07
|
|
Viet Nam
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/25
|
|
Western Sahara
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Articles 119, 158, and 159, Constitution
|
2009/08/14
|
|
Yemen
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
Articles 119, 158, and 159, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Zambia
|
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
|
Source:
The 1967 Referendum Act
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
c. No
|
Source:
Maureen Nthabiseng Moloi, EISA
|
2007/01/07
|
