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total countries/territories: 83
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| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
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Albania
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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The President of the Republic sets the date of the referendum within 45 days after the announcement of a positive decision of the Constitutional Court or after the expiration of the period within which the Constitutional Court should have rendered its decision. During the year, referenda can be held on only one day.
Source:
Art 152 para 3 Constitution
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2005/03/17
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Algeria
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d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 174, Constitution
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2005/04/29
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American Samoa
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
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2007/01/08
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Andorra
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d. Not applicable
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2006/10/26
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Argentina
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d. Not applicable
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2021/12/26
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Armenia
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d. Not applicable
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2005/03/30
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Austria
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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The registration period of 8 days is fixed by the Federal Minister of the Interior within a time frame of eight weeks (at the earliest) to six months (at the latest) after granting the application.
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2005/04/27
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Bahamas
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d. Not applicable
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2006/11/15
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Bahrain
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Article 92, Constitution
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2005/05/01
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Belarus
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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The date of the referendum shall be set not later than three months from the date of the decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus on appointment of the referendum
Source:
Art 117 Electoral Code
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2005/03/25
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Belgium
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d. Not applicable
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2012/05/04
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Benin
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin.
et voir aussi les articles 122.4 et 122.5 du reglement interieur de l'assemblee nationale.
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2008/02/26
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Botswana
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d. Not applicable
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2006/10/17
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Bulgaria
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d. Not applicable
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2006/11/03
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Burkina Faso
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d. Not applicable
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2005/04/12
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Cambodia
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d. Not applicable
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2006/11/06
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Canada
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d. Not applicable
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2006/12/10
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Chile
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d. Not applicable
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2005/04/05
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Colombia
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d. Not applicable
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2005/06/23
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Cook Islands
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Teokoati Joseph, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Service – Ministry of Justice
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2007/01/08
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Croatia
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c. Other (specify)
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Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
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2005/11/14
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Cyprus
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d. Not applicable
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2012/04/26
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Côte d'Ivoire
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
DOGOU ALAIN, Rapporteur de la sous commission des operations electorales de la COMMISSION ELECTORALE INDEPENDANTE
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2005/04/07
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Denmark
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d. Not applicable
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2006/11/28
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Egypt
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d. Not applicable
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Not applicable. Only the government or president takes the initiatives.
Source:
Article 62, Constitution
Article 1, Political rights Law
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2025/09/30
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Eritrea
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Source:
Eritrean referendum proclamation no. 22/1992
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2005/04/06
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Estonia
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d. Not applicable
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2006/11/29
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Finland
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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The local council must make the decision of the referendum not later than 60 days before the vote.
Source:
Act of administrating a consultative referendum at local level (656/1990) 3 §.
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2005/04/13
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Gambia
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d. Not applicable
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2006/11/09
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Georgia
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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2006/11/30
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Ghana
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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A peroid of six months.
Source:
Article 290(3) of the 1992 Constitution.
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2005/12/15
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Iran, Islamic Republic of
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d. Not applicable
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2016/01/23
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Iraq
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Source:
Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD
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2007/01/03
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Ireland
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d. Not applicable
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2012/05/10
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Israel
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d. Not applicable
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2015/03/15
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Italy
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c. Other (specify)
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c) There is no specified time limit. The Chamber of Deputies or the Senate act according to their internal regulations.
Source:
Law of 25 May 1970, n. 352, Art. 48
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2012/04/17
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Japan
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c. Other (specify)
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c) Not specifically regulated but usualy as soon as all instrument of citizen's initiative is complete. In Japan, it is called a popular referendum.
Source:
Local Autonomy Law, article 74 (1-4).
National report of Japan,
http://www1.kcn.ne.jp/~imashu/n-report.htm
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2007/01/07
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Kazakhstan
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Between 1 and 3 months.
Source:
Article 19, Law on Referendum
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2020/05/04
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Kiribati
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Betiota Tooki, Chief Electoral Officer, Government Ministry
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2016/02/26
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Latvia
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c. Other (specify)
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The Saeima is only obliged to consider the initiative, however, in case it does not adopt it, referendums are to be held. There is not time-limit specified.
Source:
Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 1 and 22-25.
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2005/03/21
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Lebanon
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Constitution
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2005/05/17
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Liberia
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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2005/09/30
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Lithuania
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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The central electoral committee has to scrutinize the initiative in 15 days and then to submit it to the Seimas, which announces the date of the referendum that must be within three months but not earlier then two months.
Source:
Law on referendum, 2002, article 13-14.
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2005/03/22
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Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Only with regards to a referendum initiated by a citizen's initiative, regulation is set by law: Max. 120 days.
Article 17: (1) A proposal for announcing a legislative referendum may be submitted by the Government of the republic of Macedonia, every Member of the Parliament or at least 10,000 voters.
Article 20: The Assembly shall be obliged to decide within 30 days of submitting the proposal for announcing a legislative referendum.
Article 30: From the day of announcing the referendum until the day of holding the referendum it may not pass less than 60 nor more than 90 days.
Source:
Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, Art. 17, 20, 30
https://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/5640
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2020/04/23
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Madagascar
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d. Not applicable
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Initiatives are not provided for in law
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2005/08/25
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Malaysia
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d. Not applicable
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|
2007/01/07
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Mali
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Source:
Selon l'article 125 du code electoral
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2005/06/05
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Micronesia, Federated States of
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c. Other (specify)
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The president decides
Source:
Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections
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2007/01/08
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Moldova, Republic of
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d. Not applicable
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2021/03/30
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Morocco
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Article 103, Constitution
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2005/05/02
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Netherlands
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d. Not applicable
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|
2005/09/06
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Niger
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Source:
Pr Niandou Souley Abdoulaye
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2005/06/07
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Nigeria
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d. Not applicable
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2006/12/30
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Palestine
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d. Not applicable
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2007/06/11
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Peru
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Source:
art. 21, 44, 45 y 46 de la Ley de los Derechos de Participacion y Control Ciudadanos.
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2005/08/24
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Poland
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c. Other (specify)
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No time limit specified.
Source:
Mr Henryk Bielski, Specialist in the National Electoral Office
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2005/11/13
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Portugal
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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60-90 days after the Decree of the President of the Republic.
Source:
Article 35 Referendum law.
|
2005/04/20
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Romania
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d. Not applicable
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|
2005/03/20
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Russian Federation
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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President of the Russian Federation in 15 (fifteen) days period upon acquisition of the Constitutional Court's resolution shall decide on the day of the vote.
It shall not take place earlier than 60 (sixty) and shall not take place later than 100 (one hundred) days upon the announcement of the day of vote.
Source:
Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.23.(2).
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2005/03/26
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Saint Kitts and Nevis
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d. Not applicable
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2020/04/26
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Senegal
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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Source:
Tanor Thiendella Fall
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2005/06/06
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Sierra Leone
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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|
2005/06/09
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Singapore
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d. Not applicable
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|
2007/01/07
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Solomon Islands
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
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Somalia
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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7 days
Source:
http://www.somalilandforum.com/somaliland/law/referendum-law-english.htm
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2005/08/26
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Spain
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d. Not applicable
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|
2012/04/18
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Sri Lanka
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d. Not applicable
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|
2016/02/15
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Sudan
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Article 66, Constitution
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2005/05/03
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Sweden
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d. Not applicable
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|
2012/05/16
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Switzerland
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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The vote has to take place within 10 months after the decision of Parliament about whether they want to recommend the acceptance or rejection of the initiative. The Parliament has to issue its recommendation within 30 months after the deposit of the initiative (Parliament can decide to prolong the delay by one year if they want to put forward a counter proposal). If the Parliament does not reach agreement on its recommendation, the vote takes place the latest 10 months after the delay for the Parliament has expired.
Source:
Electoral Law of 17 December 1976 regulating political rights, Art. 75a: Official website of the Swiss administration: http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/161_1/index.html (2012)
|
2012/05/14
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Thailand
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Mr. Somchai Thepareenun, Election Officer, Office of the Election Commission of Thailand
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2007/01/12
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Togo
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin
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2005/05/12
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Tonga
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d. Not applicable
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2021/09/15
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Tunisia
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
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2005/05/03
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Turkey
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Art 175, 88 Constitution
|
2015/06/01
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Uganda
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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one week
Source:
http://www.africaaction.org/docs00/ugan0004.htm
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2005/08/24
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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d. Not applicable
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|
2012/05/09
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Uruguay
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a. Within a certain time limit (specify)
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a) and b) are both applicable:
a) En el caso del recurso de referéndum, si hubiere sido deducido por el 25% (veinticinco por ciento) de los inscriptos habilitados para votar, La Corte Electoral convocará al Cuerpo Electoral a referéndum, el que deberá realizarses dentro de los 120 (ciento veinte) días sigueintes al de la proclamación que el recurso fue interpuesto en tiempo y forma. Si dentro del plazo de 120 (ciento veinte) días, se celebraran las elecciones internas y primarias, las nacionales (incluido el balotaje) y las municipales, se realizará dentro de los 45 (cuarenta y cinco) días posteriores a las referidas elecciones.
b) Si se prevé que se someterá a plebiscito en forma simultáneamente a las más próximas elecciones nacionales.
Source:
a) Artículo 37 de la Ley N° 16.017 de 20 de enero de 1989 en la redacción dada por la Ley N° 17.244 de 30 de junio de 2000.
b) Artículo 331 literal C) inciso último, de la Constitución.
|
2006/04/12
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Vanuatu
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Electoral Commission of Vanuatu
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2016/01/27
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Viet Nam
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d. Not applicable
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2021/03/26
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Western Sahara
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d. Not applicable
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Source:
Articles 42, 118, 156 and 158, Constitution
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2009/08/14
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Yemen
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d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 42, 118, 156 and 158, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
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