|
total countries/territories: 96
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Central Election Commission is responsible for referenda.
Source:
Art. 153. Constitution
|
2005/03/17
|
|
Algeria
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
Governmental Election Commission
Source:
Article 165, Constitution
|
2005/04/29
|
|
American Samoa
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
Source:
Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Anguilla
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/30
|
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
Supervisor of Elections
Source:
Constitution, Chapter IV, Part 2, Section 47, subsection 7 and Part 6, Section 67.
|
2006/03/17
|
|
Argentina
|
d. Legislature
e. Other (specify who)
|
Source:
Ley 24.747
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Austria
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Art. 26 B-VG.
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Bahrain
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
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
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on Holding Elections and Republican Referenda
Source:
Law on CCE, Electoral Code
|
2005/03/25
|
|
Belgium
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Benin
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
Source:
Voir article 4 de la constitution et les articles 71 et 72 de la loi n°91-009 du 04 mars 1991 portant loi organique sur la cour constitutionnelle modifiee par la loi du 17 juin 1997 et mise en conformite avec la constitution le 11 juillet 2000.
|
2005/02/16
|
|
Botswana
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Section 65A (12)(a) of the Constitution states that the Independent Electoral Commission "shall be responsible for the conduct and supervision of elections of the Elected Members of the National Assembly and members of a local authority, and conduct of a referendum".
Source:
The Constitution of Botswana, Section 65A (12)(a)
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Bulgaria
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
a) Yes (recently this is the Ministry of Administration and Administrative Reform)
b) Yes (the Central Election Commission for Parliamentary Elevtions carries out also the national referendums)
The system of election commissions (One Central Election Commission), 264 Municipal Election Commissions and about 12,300 Polling Station Commissions) carry out the referendums.
Source:
Law for referendums, article 9-11
|
2006/11/30
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Cambodia
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Cameroon
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Electoral Code Chapter VI section 87: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/CM/cameroon-electoral-code-english-2012
|
2018/11/07
|
|
Canada
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
b) The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Chile
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Colombia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
|
2005/05/26
|
|
Croatia
|
a. Government (specify department)
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
DOGOU ALAIN, Rapporteur de la sous commission des operations electorales de la COMMISSION ELECTORALE INDEPENDANTE
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Denmark
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
e) Ministry of Interior
|
2015/06/12
|
|
Djibouti
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
The 1992 Constitution of Djibouti, art. 77
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Ecuador
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Constitución Política: Art.105
Ley de Elecciones: Arts.115 al 119
|
2005/04/25
|
|
Egypt
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
Ministry of Interior with the help of internal small committees that are elected by the Minister of Interior.
Source:
Article 24, Political Rights Law
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Eritrea
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Eritrean referendum proclamation no. 22/1992
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Estonia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
b) The National Election Commission.
Source:
The Referendum Act, art. 17(1)
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Finland
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
Ministry of Justice.
Source:
Act of administrating a consutative national referendum (571/1987) 3 §
The Election Act 10 §
|
2005/04/13
|
|
France
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
e) The Constitutional Court
Source:
Constitution, Art. 60
|
2012/05/03
|
|
Gambia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
The Gambian Constitution, Article..............
|
2006/11/09
|
|
Georgia
|
c. President
|
Source:
Constitution of Georgia, art. 52:
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Georgia_2018?lang=en
|
2024/07/24
|
|
Germany
|
f. Not applicable
|
No direct democracy mechanisms at the national level with exceptions for the reorganization of the federal territory (Art. 29 para. 2 GG) and in the case of a new constitution (Art. 146 GG).
Source:
https://www.bpb.de/23190/volksabstimmung
|
2021/11/29
|
|
Ghana
|
b. Independent electoral commission
d. Legislature
|
Parliament passes the law and the Electoral Commission over sees the voting.
Source:
1992 Constitution.
|
2005/12/14
|
|
Greece
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
a. Ministry of Interior / Directorate of Elections
Source:
Presidential Decree 49/1988, Art. 9.1
|
2012/04/13
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
The administration ... of referendums, much like other elections in Iran, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior.
Source:
https://www.sssup.it/UploadDocs/14620_2_R_Duality_by_Design__The_Iranian_Electoral_System_Yasmin_Alem.pdf
|
2016/01/23
|
|
Iraq
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Independent High Electoral Council will, in all likelyhood retain its central role (legislation/policy/adjudication of complaints/oversight body) although the administration of local referenda (e.g. on the creation of regions) may end up being managed at governorate (provincial) level
Source:
Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD
|
2007/01/03
|
|
Ireland
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
The Department of Environment, Community and Local
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
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
a) The Ministry of Interior, specifically the Central Directorate on Electoral Services ("Direzione Centrale dei Servizi Elettorali").
Source:
Ministry of Interior Official Website: http://www.interno.it/mininterno/export/sites/default/it/temi/elezioni/sottotema001.html (2012)
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Central Election Commission
Source:
Article 13, Law on Referendum
|
2020/05/04
|
|
Kiribati
|
b. Independent electoral commission
c. President
d. Legislature
e. Other (specify who)
|
Source:
Constitution
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Latvia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 3.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Lebanon
|
f. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 76 to 79, Constitution
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Lesotho
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Source:
The 2001 Electoral Act
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Liberia
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
c. President
d. Legislature
|
IEC is an independent body commissioned by the president and approved by the legislature
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
a. Internal.
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Law: Republic of Lithuania Law on Referendum, last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
2. Bodies for conduct of referendum
Article 34
The referendum shall be conducted by:
- The State Election Commission;
- The electoral commissions of the electoral units (hereinafter: electoral commissions) and
- The electoral boards.
Article 35
The State Election Commission during the conduct of the referendum:
- Sees to the legitimacy in the preparation and conduct of the referendum;
- Coordinates the work and gives instructions to the electoral commissions;
- Prescribes the forms for the conduct of this law;
- Determines the unique standards for the conditions for conduct of the referendum;
- Determines and announces the result of the referendum and
- Performs other works.
Article 36
The electoral commission during the conduct of the referendum:
- Appoints the composition of the electoral boards and issues instructions for their work;
- Sees to the legitimate conduct of the referendum;
- Determines the results for the electoral unit and
- Performs other works.
Article 37
The electoral board shall be composed of a president, two members and their deputies.
Article 38
The electoral board shall directly run the voting at the polling stations, provide for regularity and secrecy of the voting, provide for free and peaceful holding of the voting, determine the result of the voting in the polling stations and perform other matters.
Source:
Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, art. 34-38:
https://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/5640
|
2020/04/22
|
|
Madagascar
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
electoral law tittle III article 113
|
2005/05/10
|
|
Malawi
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
e) A referendum commission is responsible for this process.
Source:
Regulation of 1993: Extraordinary Gazette No. 4A
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Malaysia
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
c. President
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Constitution du 25 fevrier 1992 et loi N00-58 du 30 août 2000 portant code electoral
|
2005/06/03
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
a. Government (specify department)
c. President
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
d. Legislature
|
a) In principle this is decided on a case by case basis, but the most practical solution is for the ad hoc law to refer to the election law as far as it is relevant, which was done at least in 1972 and 1994, possibly even before.
Source:
Law on referendum on the question if Norway should become member of the European Union. (Lov om folkeavstemning over sporsmalet om Norge bør bli medlem av Den europeiske union, 1994.)
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Morocco
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
Governmental Electoral Commission
Source:
Articles 8 and 116, Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Mozambique
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
The 2002 Electoral Law, Chapter II
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Namibia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), established in 1992 administered as part of the Prime Minister's Office 1992-2000: established as an independent body in 2000.
Source:
The 1992 Electoral Act (No. 24 of 1992); G.H.K. Totemeyer et al.: "Elections in Namibia", 1996
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Netherlands
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
a.) Ministry of Interior and the Local Government.
The local municipalities organize the referendum, the Minister of the Interior is overall responsible and the Electoral Council determines the result.
Source:
The specific law for the referendum, the Elections Act and the Elections Decree.
|
2007/01/23
|
|
Niger
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Article 6 de la constitution
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Norway
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
a) In principle this is decided on a case by case basis, but the most practical solution is for the ad hoc law to refer to the election law as far as it is relevant, which was done at least in 1972 and 1994, possibly even before.
Source:
Law on referendum on the question if Norway should become member of the European Union. (Lov om folkeavstemning over sporsmalet om Norge bør bli medlem av Den europeiske union, 1994.)
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Palestine
|
f. Not applicable
|
Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:
Electoral Commission Palestine
|
2007/06/11
|
|
Peru
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
constitution, art. 176 y 177.
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Philippines
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Art. IX C, Sec. 2(1), Constitution
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Poland
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
It's the duty if National Electoral Commission, but the body that initiates referendum, has a duty to explain it's tasks.
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
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Organic Law of the Ministry of Internal Administration no 126-B/2011 of 29 December 2011, Art. 1, 12(1); Law no 71/78 of 27 December 1978, establishing the National Electoral Commission
|
2012/04/20
|
|
Romania
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Law on referendums, 2000, articles 17-18 and 23.
|
2005/03/20
|
|
Russian Federation
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
ad B) Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation
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. 20. (12);
Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.10..
|
2005/03/13
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
f. Not applicable
|
No official information provided.
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Senegal
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Tanor Tandhiela Fall
|
2005/06/05
|
|
Seychelles
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Election laws chapter 68A section 54
|
2005/03/23
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
SECTION 33 OF 1991 CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE
|
2005/06/09
|
|
Singapore
|
d. Legislature
e. Other (specify who)
|
Source:
Constitution, article 5 (1) (2) (2A)
Constitution, article 5A (1)
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Slovakia
|
c. President
|
Source:
The Constitution of the Slovak Republic (1992), Art. 95
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
f. Not applicable
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
National referendum Committee
Source:
The law of the referendum constitution of republic of Somalia article 8
|
2005/04/13
|
|
South Africa
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
The 1996 Electoral Commission Act, Chapter 2.2 (a)
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Spain
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
Source:
Royal Decree 1599/2004 of 2 July, on the organisation of the Ministry of Interior, Art. 8
|
2012/04/18
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
b) The Commissioner of Elections.
C:87 "(1) Every Referendum shall be conducted by the Commissioner of Elections who shall communicate the result thereof to the President. (2) Parliament shall by law provide for all matters relating to the procedure for the submission of Bills and of matters of national importance to the People by Referenda, the register of electors to be used at a Referendum, the creation of offences relating thereto and the punishment therefor, and, all other matters necessary or incidental thereto."
Source:
Constitution, art. 87: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/LK/sri-lanka-constitution-as-amended-up-to-9/at_download/file
|
2016/02/15
|
|
Sudan
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Article 66 and 128, Constitution
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Sweden
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
The Central Election Authority
Source:
Act on National Referenda (SFS 1979:369), Section 2: http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/06/97/09/436f8d27.pdf (2012);
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
a. Government (specify department)
e. Other (specify who)
|
a) Section of Political Rights in the Federal Chancellery. The Federal Chancellery is the central staff office of the Federal Council (Executive). The Political Rights section advises initiative and referendum committees, verifies petition lists, formally examines popular initiatives, organises federal votes and elections to the National Council and deals with complaints relating to votes and elections. The section is also working on the introduction of electronic voting (e-voting).
e) The cantons. The organisation of federal votes and elections to the National Council are organised jointly with the Cantons.
Source:
Legal:
Art. 59a, 66, 67a, 67b FLP (responsibility of the Federal Chancellery with regard to optional referendums)
Art. 69, 71, 72 FLP (responsibility of the Federal Chancellery with regard to citizens initiative)
Art. 10, 11, 14, 15 FLP (who does what in federal votes),
For further information: www.admin.ch (Website of the Federal Authorities of the Swiss confederation. F, G, E, I, Rumantsch), http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/bk/chanc/index.html (Website of the Federal Chancellery. F, G, E, I, R) and http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/pore/index.html (Website of the Section of Political Rights. F, G, E, I, R)
For printed publications on Switzerland cf: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/bk/order/index.html
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Togo
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
Source:
Code electoral 2005 article 4 (nouveau) alinea 1.
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Tonga
|
f. Not applicable
|
|
2021/09/15
|
|
Tunisia
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
Ministry of Interior
Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Turkey
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Higher Council of Elections
Source:
Art 79 Constitution
|
2015/06/01
|
|
Uganda
|
d. Legislature
e. Other (specify who)
|
in conjunction with National Electoral commission.
Source:
Chapter 6 section 84 of the constitution
General and Miscellaneous(255)
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Ukraine
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Law on referenda:
Art. 11.
The procedure of preparation and conduct of Referenda is determined by the Cabinet of Ministries of Ukraine and by the appropriate local Councils of peoples' deputies.
Art. 24.
For the purpose of the preparation and conduct of the All- Ukrainian referendum the following commissions shall be formed:
Central Commission on All-Ukrainian referendum;
Commission of the Republic of Crimea on All-Ukrainian referendum;
Oblast, rayon, city, city rayon, settlement, and village commissions on referendum;
Division commissions on referendum.
Before the Central Commission on All-Ukrainian referendum is formed, its functions shall be executed by the Central Electoral Commission on the elections of peoples' deputies of Ukraine.
Cf. art. 15. of Law on referenda too: The collection of signatures shall be organized and conducted by the initiative groups of the referendum.
Source:
ww.legislationline.org
|
2005/03/17
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
The Department of Constitutional Affairs is responsible for drafting the legislation, local government staff are responsible for physically administering voting, while the independent Electoral Commission has a number of other statutory roles with regards to the referendum, including being consulted on the legislation, paying the local authority staff and providing training and guidance to the local authority staff.
Source:
Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000
|
2012/05/09
|
|
Uruguay
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
La Corte Electoral.
Source:
Artículo 322, literal A) y C) de la Constitución.
|
2006/04/11
|
|
Venezuela
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
|
2006/04/07
|
|
Viet Nam
|
d. Legislature
|
Standing committee of National Assembly
Source:
Constitution, article 91 (12)
|
2021/03/25
|
|
Western Sahara
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Supreme Committee, Same as for Elections
Source:
Article 159, Constitution
|
2009/08/14
|
|
Yemen
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Supreme Committee, Same as for Elections
Source:
Article 159, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Zambia
|
e. Other (specify who)
|
"[...] there is hereby established a Referendum Commission (thereinafter in this Act referred to as "the Commission") for the purpose of supervising the conduct of any referendum held pursuant to section two)"
Source:
The 1967 Referendum Act
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
The 2000 Constitutional Referendum was managed by the National Government with the association of the Constitutional Commission.
Source:
Maureen Nthabiseng Moloi, EISA
|
2007/01/07
|
