|
total countries/territories: 86
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|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Art 118 para 3 Electoral Code
|
2005/03/17
|
|
Algeria
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Articles 169 to 171, Electoral Law
|
2005/04/29
|
|
Argentina
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Austria
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Art. 45 B-VG.
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Bahrain
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
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
Source:
Article 43, Constitution
|
2005/05/01
|
|
Belarus
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
The decision shall be considered as adopted by the referendum, if it was supported by more than half of the total number of voters, who have taken part in the vote in the Republic of Belarus.
The decision on the adoption, alteration and amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus shall be deemed adopted if it was supported by the majority of the citizens included in the ballot lists.
Source:
Art 121 Electoral Code
|
2005/03/25
|
|
Belgium
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Benin
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin.
|
2005/05/06
|
|
Botswana
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Bulgaria
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Law for referendums, article 17
|
2006/11/03
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Assemblee Nationale
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Cambodia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Chile
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Cook Islands
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Teokoati Joseph, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Service – Ministry of Justice
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Croatia
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Cyprus
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
Source:
Article 126 de la constitution
|
2005/04/07
|
|
Denmark
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
b) Majority against the bill comprising 30 per cent of the electorate.
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Ecuador
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Egypt
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 35, Political Rights Law
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Eritrea
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Eritrean referendum proclamation no. 22/1992
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Estonia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, art. 105(2)
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Finland
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
The referendum is always consultative.
|
2005/04/14
|
|
France
|
e. Not applicable
|
No minimum number of signatures is required.
Source:
Official Website of the Constitutional Court: http://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/conseil-constitutionnel/francais/documentation/dossiers-thematiques/2004-le-referendum-sous-la-ve-republique/le-referendum-sous-la-ve-republique.17410.html (2012)
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Gambia
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
|
2006/11/09
|
|
Ghana
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
1992 Constitution
|
2005/12/15
|
|
Greece
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Law 350/1976, Art. 1(4)
|
2012/04/13
|
|
Guam
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Source:
Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director, Guam Election Commission
|
2007/01/10
|
|
Hungary
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
C:28/C "(6) A national ratification referendum shall be considered successful if more than half of the votes of the citizens voting are valid, but at least more than one-quarter of all eligible voters have given the same answer in the referendum."
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Hungary, art. 28/C(6)
|
2006/12/01
|
|
Iraq
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
For amendments to the constitution it is required the approval of 2/3 of Council of Representatives members prior to the referendum
Source:
Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD
|
2007/01/03
|
|
Israel
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 75 and 138
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Decision on a question submitted to referendum shall be considered as adopted if as a result of voting it has been supported by more than half of citizens, who have taken part in voting.
Source:
Article 31, Law on Referendum
|
2020/05/04
|
|
Kiribati
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Latvia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Constitution, 1922; Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Lebanon
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
constitution
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Lesotho
|
e. Not applicable
|
There are no provisions for optional referendums in Lesotho.
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Liberia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Republic of Lithuania Law on Referendum, last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860, art. 7-8.
|
2005/03/22
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Article 23
The decision for a legislative referendum shall be considered adopted, if majority of the voters that voted, voted for that, if more than half of the total number of voters registered in the General Voters’ List voted.
Source:
Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, art. 23
https://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/5640
|
2020/04/23
|
|
Madagascar
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
February 23, 2001
|
2005/08/25
|
|
Malawi
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Malaysia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Selon Monsieur Omar Kamian du CSC
|
2005/06/05
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
e. Not applicable
|
There has not been full political consensus on how to interpret the results during the last two referenda. Being advisory some members of the parliament have stated that they would make their own judgement on the result and indicated that a close majority in favour of joining the EU (in 1972 and 1994) would not necessarily make them vote against their own conviction. The government did, however, adhere to the majority against membership in the EU and did not propose membership after the two referenda.
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Morocco
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 125, Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Mozambique
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Namibia
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
C:132 "(3)(c) If upon the holding of such a referendum the bill containing the proposed repeals and/or amendments is approved by a two- thirds majority of all the votes cast in the referendum, the bill shall be deemed to have been passed in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution [...]"
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Chapter 19, Article 132, Section 3 (a) "Repeal and Amendment of the Constitution
|
2006/11/16
|
|
Netherlands
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
d.) It depends on what is stated in the specific law. For the referendum on the European Constitution a simply majority is required.
|
2005/09/06
|
|
Niger
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Source:
Code electoral article 129
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Nigeria
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/12/30
|
|
Norway
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
There has not been full political consensus on how to interpret the results during the last two referenda. Being advisory some members of the parliament have stated that they would make their own judgement on the result and indicated that a close majority in favour of joining the EU (in 1972 and 1994) would not necessarily make them vote against their own conviction. The government did, however, adhere to the majority against membership in the EU and did not propose membership after the two referenda.
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Poland
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003
|
2005/10/30
|
|
Portugal
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
A referendum shall only have binding force where the number of voters is greater than
one half of the voters registered in the electoral roll.
Source:
Constitution article 115, nr 11.
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Romania
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Law on referendums, 2000, article 1-12.
|
2005/03/20
|
|
Russian Federation
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.80.(7).
|
2005/03/19
|
|
Rwanda
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
The opinion expressed by more than a half of voters shall prevail and competent authorities shall execute it.
Source:
Electoral laws Article 175. http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/RW/rwanda-organic-law-nb0-17-2003-of-07-07-2003/view
|
2018/11/02
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
Not less than two-thirds of all the votes validly cast on that referendum in the island of Saint Christopher and two-thirds of all the votes validly cast on that referendum in the island of Nevis.
Source:
Constitution of Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Senegal
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 103 de la constitution
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Seychelles
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
At least 60%
Source:
Article 91 (1) of the Constitution
|
2005/08/30
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/06/09
|
|
Singapore
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Slovakia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Slovak Republic (1992), Art. 98
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Slovenia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Art. 90 and 170 of the Constitution
|
2005/04/14
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
http://somalilandforum.com/somaliland/const_referendum/Referendum-position-paper.htm
|
2005/08/26
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
C:85 "(3) Any Bill or any provision in any Bill submitted to the People by Referendum shall be deemed to be approved by the People if approved by an absolute majority of the valid votes cast at such Referendum: Provided that when the total number of valid votes cast does not exceed two-thirds of the whole number of electors entered in the register of electors, such Bill shall be deemed to be approved only if approved by not less than one-third of the whole number of such electors."
Source:
The Constitution of Sri Lanka, art. 85(3): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/LK/sri-lanka-constitution-as-amended-up-to-9/at_download/file
|
2016/02/15
|
|
Sudan
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 66, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Sweden
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
The Instrument of the Government Ch. 8, Section 4: Official Website of the Parliament: http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Start/Bestall/Sprakversioner/English---engelska1/Sveriges-grundlagar-och-riksdagsordningen1/ (2012);
Act on National Referenda (SFS 1979:369): http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/06/97/09/436f8d27.pdf (2012
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
A majority of the people and a majority of the cantons is required for mandatory referendums on revisions of the Federal constitution, the entry into organizations for collective security or into supranational communities, federal statues declared urgent which have no constitutional basis and whose validity exceeds one year.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 141, 142
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Taiwan
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
The number of proposers for the matters prescribed in Paragraph 2 of Article 2 shall be not less than one-ten thousandth of the total electorate in the most recent election of President and Vice President.
Source:
Article 10, Referendum Act
|
2020/03/31
|
|
Timor-Leste
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
C:66 "4. A referendum shall only be binding where the number of voters is higher than half of the registered electors."
Source:
The 2002 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, art. 66:4
|
2007/01/05
|
|
Togo
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution 1992 titre 1 article 4 alinea 3 .
|
2005/05/13
|
|
Tonga
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2021/09/15
|
|
Tunisia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Turkey
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Electoral Code
|
2015/06/01
|
|
Uganda
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
a two thirds of registered voters
Source:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:UVF9Y_fSO68J:www.ids.ac.uk/logolink/resources/downloads/regionalreports/RegionalReportGaventaEastAfrica%2520final.doc+uganda+recall+of+members+of+parliament+election+reports&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Ukraine
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2005/03/17
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
A simple majority is sufficient. However, it should be noted that all referendums in the UK to date have been advisory. Consequently, the results have not been technically binding. Also, it is possible that a threshold clause may be included in the legislation, although this is rare and has only happened in Scotland in 1975 where 40% of the electorate had to vote in favour of an outcome.
Source:
Douglas Stewart, Head of Corporate Programmes, The Electoral Commission.
|
2012/05/09
|
|
Uruguay
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/04/11
|
|
Viet Nam
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/26
|
|
Western Sahara
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 93, Constitution
|
2009/08/14
|
|
Yemen
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 93, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Zambia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/16
|
