|
total countries/territories: 111
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Art 132 Electoral Code
|
2005/03/17
|
|
Algeria
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 165, and 168 to 171, Electoral Law
|
2005/04/29
|
|
American Samoa
|
c. No
|
Source:
Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Andorra
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/26
|
|
Anguilla
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/30
|
|
Argentina
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Armenia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/03/30
|
|
Austria
|
c. No
|
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Azerbaijan
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/30
|
|
Bahamas
|
c. No
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (CCB)
|
2006/11/15
|
|
Bahrain
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 43 of Constitution
|
2005/05/01
|
|
Belarus
|
c. No
|
Source:
Art 73 et seq Constitution, 125 et seq. Electoral Code
|
2005/03/25
|
|
Belgium
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Nouvelle loi communale (art. 318 à 329).
|
2005/04/27
|
|
Belize
|
c. No
|
Source:
1981 Constitution, updated through 1988 reforms.
|
2005/10/14
|
|
Benin
|
c. No
|
Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin.
Internal regulations of the National Assembly, Article 121.
|
2008/02/26
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Law on Local Self-Government
|
2006/11/04
|
|
Botswana
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Bulgaria
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/03
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Cambodia
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Cape Verde
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
C:ChII:108 "1. The electors registered in the electoral census in the national territory shall have the right to pronounce themselves through a referendum on any matter relevant to national or local interest. 2. The convening and the holding of a referendum shall be prohibited between the date of the convening and the holding of the elections for the organs of sovereignty or of local power, during the state of siege or emergency and until thirty days following its cessation, and in the latter case, only in the part of the territory declared to be under the state of emergency. 3. Each referendum shall only have a sole question as its object and the following questions shall not, in any case, be submitted to popular scrutiny: a) Separation and the interdependence of the organs of sovereignty and their powers; b) Independence of the courts and their decisions; c) Separation of churches from the State; d) Appointment of the elected holders of the organs of sovereignty and of local administration by universal, direct, secret and periodic ballot; e) Pluralism of expression, existence of political parties and associations and rights of the opposition; f) Rights, liberties and guarantees established constitutionally; g) National or local acts which have a budgetary, tributary or financial content; h) Autonomy of the local administration, as well as the organization and competence of their organs. 4. The proposals for a referendum shall be subject to preventive monitoring of their constitutionality and legality. 5. Once the proposal for a referendum is judged to be unconstitutional or illegal, such referendum shall not take place, nor shall the proposal be renewed in the same legislature. 6. Proposals for a referendum that have been refused by the competent organ or that have been the object of a negative response from the electorate shall not be renewed in the same legislature. 7. The result of a referendum shall be abided by all organs of political power, as well as by public and private entities. 8. The provisions of Articles 102 to 105 shall be applicable to the referenda, with the necessary
adaptations. 9. The questions to be submitted to the electors shall be formulated with simplicity, objectivity, precision and clarity, in such a way as not to suggest, directly or indirectly, any response. Any response shall be given as a "yes" or a "nay."
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde, Chapter II, articles 108 and 110
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Chile
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Colombia
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
|
2005/06/24
|
|
Croatia
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Cyprus
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Czech Republic
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
DOGOU ALAIN, Rapporteur de la sous commission des operations electorales de la COMMISSION ELECTORALE INDEPENDANTE
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Denmark
|
c. No
|
|
2006/12/01
|
|
Dominican Republic
|
c. No
|
Source:
2002 Constitution.
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Ecuador
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Ley Orgánica de Elecciones: Arts., 119 al 123
|
2005/04/25
|
|
Egypt
|
c. No
|
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Eritrea
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Eritrean International News Portal
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Estonia
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Finland
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Local Government Act (365/1995) 30 and 31 §
Act of administrating a consultative referendum at local level (656/1990)
|
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
|
c. No
|
|
2006/11/30
|
|
Germany
|
b. Yes, in some municipalities/districts/communes
|
|
2005/04/13
|
|
Ghana
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
The Local Government Act 462
|
2005/12/14
|
|
Greece
|
c. No
|
|
2012/04/13
|
|
Guam
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director, Guam Election Commission
|
2007/01/10
|
|
Hungary
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
C:44 "(1) Eligible voters exercise the right to local government through the representative body that they elect and by way of local referendum."
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Hungary, art. 44
|
2006/12/01
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2016/01/23
|
|
Ireland
|
c. No
|
|
2012/05/10
|
|
Israel
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
c. No
|
|
2010/07/16
|
|
Jamaica
|
c. No
|
Source:
1962 Constitution with reforms through 1999.
|
2005/10/14
|
|
Japan
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Local Authority law, article 74 (1-4)
Local Authority law, article 13 (1-3)
Local Authority law, article 244-4 (1-6)
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Kiribati
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Latvia
|
c. No
|
|
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
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
c. No
|
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Law on Local Self-Government, Article 26 (Civil Initiative):
(1) The citizens shall have the right to propose to the council to enact a certain act or to decide upon a certain issue within its authority.(2) Civil initiative shall not be raised for personnel and financial issues.(3) Upon the proposal from paragraph 1 of this Article, the council shall be obliged to discuss if it is supported by at least 10% of the voters in the municipality, that is of the neighbourhood self-government to which a certain issue refers.(4) The council shall be obliged to hold the discussion from paragraph 3 of this Article at the latest 90 days after the raising of the initiative and to inform the citizens on its decision.
Source:
Law on Local Self Government (2002), Art. 26: http://mls.gov.mk/images/laws/EN/Law_LSG.pdf
|
2020/04/23
|
|
Madagascar
|
c. No
|
Not mentioned in law
|
2005/08/25
|
|
Malawi
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Malaysia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/06/03
|
|
Malta
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
|
2006/11/22
|
|
Mexico
|
c. No
|
Source:
Constitutions and electoral legislations of the 31 states and the Federal District.
|
2005/10/13
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
c. No
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Morocco
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 109, Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Mozambique
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Namibia
|
c. No
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Netherlands
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/08/19
|
|
Niger
|
b. Yes, in some municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Pr Niandou Souley Abdoulaye
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Norway
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Palestine
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/06/11
|
|
Peru
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Philippines
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Art. X, Sec. 3, Constitution
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Poland
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Act on local referendum of 15 September 2000
and
Mr. Henryk Bielski, specialist of the National Electoral Office
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Portugal
|
c. No
|
|
2012/04/20
|
|
Romania
|
c. No
|
Source:
Law on referendums, 2000, article 2 and 13-14.
|
2005/03/20
|
|
Russian Federation
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
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.(3).
Constitution of 12th December 1993, Art. 130.(2).
|
2005/03/19
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
d. Not applicable
|
Not applicable.
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Senegal
|
c. No
|
Source:
Articles 51 et 103 de la constitution
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Seychelles
|
d. Not applicable
|
There are no initiatives in the country
|
2005/03/23
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
c. No
|
NOT PART OF SIERRA LEONE LAWS
|
2005/06/13
|
|
Singapore
|
c. No
|
Source:
Constitution, article 5 (2A)
Constitution, article 5A
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Slovakia
|
c. No
|
|
2005/04/01
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
c. No
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
www.somalilandforum.com
|
2005/04/13
|
|
South Africa
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Spain
|
c. No
|
|
2012/04/18
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2016/02/15
|
|
Sudan
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 66 and 128, Constitution and Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Swaziland
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Sweden
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
The county councils' and the municipalities' legal framework as regards direct democracy is jointly regulated in The Local Government Act (Swedish Code of Statutes 1991:900)
Source:
The Local Government Act, Chapter 5, Section 23
The Act on Municipal Referendums (Swedish Code of Statutes 1994:692)
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
b. Yes, in some municipalities/districts/communes
|
Switzerland has approximately 3 000 communes which all have different forms of direct democracy instruments.
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Taiwan
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
|
2020/03/31
|
|
Togo
|
c. No
|
Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin
reglement interieur de l'assemblee nationale.
|
2005/04/28
|
|
Tonga
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/09/15
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
c. No
|
Source:
1976 Constitution with reforms through 2000.
|
2015/05/22
|
|
Tunisia
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Turkey
|
c. No
|
Source:
Constitution, Rumpf - Steinbach op. cit
|
2015/06/01
|
|
Uganda
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Chapter 6 section 84 of the constitution
Groups refered to in section 78 of the constitution
|
2005/04/01
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Source:
Local Government Act 2000. Part II & Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001.
|
2012/05/09
|
|
United States of America
|
b. Yes, in some municipalities/districts/communes
|
|
2007/01/06
|
|
Uruguay
|
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
|
Los institutos, ya sea el referéndum, la iniciativa ciudadana o popular, y la iniciativa legislativa se pueden interponer en todo los departamentos (o Municipios) del país; pero también se puede interponer un recurso en un solo Departamento o Municipio, en los casos vistos en el punto DD17-DD21.
|
2006/04/11
|
|
Uzbekistan
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2009/08/18
|
|
Vanuatu
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Electoral Commission of Vanuatu
|
2016/01/27
|
|
Venezuela
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/04/07
|
|
Viet Nam
|
c. No
|
The referendum only possible at the Legislative level
Source:
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-s-public-referendum-act-comes-into-effect-today-3429065.html
|
2021/03/25
|
|
Western Sahara
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 119, 158, and 159, Constitution
|
2009/08/14
|
|
Yemen
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 119, 158, and 159, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Zambia
|
c. No
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
c. No
|
Source:
Maureen Nthabiseng Moloi, EISA
|
2018/10/31
|
