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Direct Democracy

What is the deadline, if any, for collecting the required number of signatures after a proposal for an agenda initiative has been published?


total countries/territories: 72
Country/Territory Answers Comments Verified
Albania b. Other (specify) Not regulated by the law
Source: Art 81 Constitution, Electoral Code 		2005/03/21
Algeria c. Not applicable No signatures are required, normal ballots for referendums only
Source: Articles 168, and 169 Electoral Law 		2005/04/29
American Samoa c. Not applicable
Source: Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office 		2007/01/08
Argentina c. Not applicable 2021/12/26
Armenia c. Not applicable
Source: 		2005/03/30
Austria a. Fixed time period (specify) In general, the time span for collecting signatures (“Eintragungszeitraum”) has to be eight days with the last day neither being a Saturday nor Sunday. In case of a public holiday during the given signing period, the time span has to be prolonged accordingly.
Source: § 5 Volksbegehrengesetz 1973. 		2005/05/19
Bahamas c. Not applicable 2006/11/15
Bahrain c. Not applicable
Source: Constitution 		2005/05/01
Belarus b. Other (specify) No time is fixed
Source: Art 115, 135 Electoral Code 		2005/03/25
Belgium c. Not applicable 2012/05/04
Benin c. Not applicable
Source: Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin. 		2008/02/26
Botswana c. Not applicable 2006/11/30
Bulgaria c. Not applicable 2006/11/30
Burkina Faso c. Not applicable 2005/04/12
Canada c. Not applicable 2006/12/10
Chile c. Not applicable 2005/04/12
Cook Islands c. Not applicable
Source: Teokoati Joseph, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Service – Ministry of Justice 		2007/01/08
Cyprus c. Not applicable 2012/04/26
Czech Republic c. Not applicable 2006/11/27
Côte d'Ivoire b. Other (specify)
Source: DOGOU ALAIN, Rapporteur de la sous commission des operations electorales de la COMMISSION ELECTORALE INDEPENDANTE 		2005/04/07
Denmark c. Not applicable 2006/11/28
Eritrea c. Not applicable Agenda initiatives are not provided for by law 2005/08/26
Estonia c. Not applicable 2006/11/29
Gambia c. Not applicable 2006/11/09
Georgia c. Not applicable 2006/11/30
Guam c. Not applicable
Source: Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director Guam Election Commission 		2007/01/10
Iran, Islamic Republic of c. Not applicable 2016/01/23
Ireland c. Not applicable 2012/05/10
Israel c. Not applicable 2015/03/15
Italy c. Not applicable 2012/04/17
Kazakhstan c. Not applicable 2020/05/04
Kiribati c. Not applicable 2020/05/13
Latvia c. Not applicable
Source: Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994. 		2006/03/07
Lebanon c. Not applicable 2005/05/17
Lithuania a. Fixed time period (specify) 3 months
Source: Law on referendum, 2002, article 11. 		2005/03/22
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of a. Fixed time period (specify) Law on Referendum, Art. 66: The deadline for collecting signatures for submitting a proposal for approaching towards amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia shall be six moths following the day of starting the collection of signatures. The deadline for collecting signatures for proposing of passing a law and reaching decisions and resolving other issues that are under the authority of the Assembly shall be three months following the day of starting the collection of signatures.
Source: Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, Art. 66: https://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/5640 		2020/04/23
Madagascar c. Not applicable Agenda initiatives are not provided for by law and have nenver been practiced 2005/08/25
Malaysia c. Not applicable 2007/01/07
Mali c. Not applicable
Source: Selon Monsieur Omar kamian du CSC 		2005/06/05
Micronesia, Federated States of c. Not applicable
Source: Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections 		2007/01/08
Moldova, Republic of c. Not applicable
Source: Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS 		2021/03/30
Morocco c. Not applicable No signatures are required, normal ballots for referendums only
Source: Articles 38, 39, 121 and 122 Electoral Law 		2005/05/02
Netherlands b. Other (specify) 2007/01/23
Norway c. Not applicable
Source: Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS 		2007/01/07
Palestine c. Not applicable 2007/06/11
Poland c. Not applicable
Source: Mr Henryk Bielski, Specialist in the National Electoral Office 		2005/11/13
Portugal c. Not applicable 2005/04/27
Romania c. Not applicable 2005/03/20
Russian Federation c. Not applicable 2005/03/30
Saint Kitts and Nevis c. Not applicable Not applicable 2020/04/26
Senegal c. Not applicable
Source: Tanor Thiendella Fall 		2005/06/06
Seychelles c. Not applicable Agenda initiativeds are not practiced 2005/08/30
Sierra Leone c. Not applicable NOT PART OF SIERRA LEONE LAWS 2005/06/09
Singapore c. Not applicable 2007/01/07
Solomon Islands c. Not applicable
Source: David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission 		2007/01/09
Somalia a. Fixed time period (specify) 7 days
Source: http://www.somalilandforum.com/somaliland/law/referendum-law-english.htm 		2005/08/26
Spain a. Fixed time period (specify) a) 6 months
Source: Law 3/1984 of 26 March regulating the citizens' initiative, Art. 7(3) 		2012/04/18
Sri Lanka c. Not applicable 2016/02/15
Sudan c. Not applicable
Source: Article 66, Constitution 		2005/05/03
Sweden c. Not applicable 2012/05/16
Switzerland c. Not applicable 2012/05/14
Taiwan c. Not applicable 2020/03/31
Thailand c. Not applicable
Source: Mr. Somchai Thepareenun, Election Officer, Office of the Election Commission of Thailand 		2007/01/12
Togo c. Not applicable
Source: Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin 		2005/05/13
Tonga c. Not applicable 2021/09/15
Turkey c. Not applicable
Source: Art 175, 88 Constitution 		2015/06/01
Uganda b. Other (specify) not specified
Source: http://www.africaaction.org/docs00/ugan0004.htm 		2005/08/24
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland c. Not applicable 2012/05/09
Vanuatu c. Not applicable
Source: Electoral Commission of Vanuatu 		2016/01/27
Viet Nam c. Not applicable 2021/03/26
Western Sahara c. Not applicable
Source: Articles 42, 118, 156 and 158, Constitution 		2009/08/14
Yemen c. Not applicable
Source: Articles 42, 118, 156 and 158, Constitution 		2005/05/03


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