|
total countries/territories: 96
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
e. Not applicable
|
There are on mandatory refernda.
Source:
constituion art 150 et seq. 177
|
2005/03/17
|
|
Algeria
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Articles 169 to 171, Electoral Law
|
2005/04/29
|
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Two thirds of all votes validly cast.
Source:
Constitution, Chapter IV, Part 2, Section 47, subsection 5c
|
2006/03/17
|
|
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
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
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
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
The Constitution of Botswana, Section 89 (4); The Referendum Act of the Laws of Botswana, Chapter 02:10 section 3
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Bulgaria
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/03
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Cambodia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Cape Verde
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Chile
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Colombia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/06/23
|
|
Croatia
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Cyprus
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Czech Republic
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
Source:
Article 126 de la constitution
|
2005/04/07
|
|
Denmark
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
b) Majority comprising 40 per cent of the electorate.
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Djibouti
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
C:87 "The President of the Republic and the deputies alike shall have the right to initiate the amendment of the Constitution. For it to be discussed, any parliamentary bill for amendment must be signed by at least one-third of the members of the National Assembly. The government or parliamentary bill for amendment must receive the votes of the majority of members of the National Assembly, and shall become definitive only after approval by referendum, by simple majority of the votes cast. Nevertheless, the referendum procedure may be dispensed with at the decision of the President of the Republic; in this case, the government or parliamentary bill for amendment shall be approved only if it is accepted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the National Assembly."
Source:
The 1992 Constitution of Djibouti, art. 87
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Ecuador
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Constitución Política: Art.,103
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Egypt
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 35, Political Rights Law
|
2025/09/30
|
|
Eritrea
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
It is not specified
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
|
e. Not applicable
|
See question A.1.1.
|
2005/04/14
|
|
France
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/03
|
|
Gambia
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
|
2006/11/09
|
|
Ghana
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Seventy - five per cent of the voter population turn out.
Source:
Article 290(4). of the 1992 Constitution.
|
2005/12/15
|
|
Greece
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/13
|
|
Guam
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director, Guam Election Commission
|
2007/01/08
|
|
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
|
c. Double majority (simple majority overall plus simple majority in certain number of first tier authorities) (specify below)
|
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
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Japan
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
The Constitution of Japan, art. 96
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/04
|
|
Kiribati
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
b) two thirds of the electorate.
Constitution, art. 69:
(3) In so far as it alters Chapter II of this Constitution, an Act under this section shall not come into operation unless the provisions contained in the Act effecting that alteration have, in accordance with any law in that behalf, been submitted to a referendum in which all persons who are registered as electors for the purposes of a general election shall be entitled to vote and unless those provisions have been supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the persons entitled to vote in the referendum.
Source:
Constitution, art. 69
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Korea, Republic of
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
C:130 "(2) The proposed amendments to the Constitution are submitted to a national referendum not later than thirty days after passage by the National Assembly, and are confirmed by more than one half of all votes cast by more than one half of voters eligible to vote in elections for members of the National Assembly."
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Korea
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Latvia
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
Absolute majority is required for amending the Constitution, i.e. the majority of the registered voters must be in favor of the proposal. In othert cases (for instance the dissolution of the Saeimas) a simple, relative majority, i.e. the majority of the votes cast, suffices.
Source:
Constitution, 1922, Section 48 and 79.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Lebanon
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
constitution
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Lesotho
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Liberia
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
constitution and legislative law
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
However, for amending certain provisions of the Constitution a 75% majority is required. Other provisions of the Constitution are to be modified by simple majority of the registered voters. However, in certain other matters the simple majority of the participating voters suffices.
Source:
Law: Republic of Lithuania Law on Referendum, last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860, art. 4-5.
|
2005/03/22
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Article 13
The decision for changing the border of the Republic and the decision for joining or abandoning an alliance or unity with other states shall be considered adopted on referendum if majority of the total number of voters registered in the General Voters’ List voted for that on the referendum.
Source:
Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, art. 13
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
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Malawi Extraordinary Gazette Article 91 (1)
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Malaysia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Titre XVII, article 120 de la constitution
|
2005/06/05
|
|
Mauritania
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
d) It depends, if the referendums concerns constitutional amendments or other matters.
C:V:Art78 "(2) They may take effect only after being ratified or approved. No cession, no exchange, and no annexation of territory is valid without the consent of the people who shall decide through referendum. (3) In the case set forth in the last paragraph of Article 2, the required majority is four-fifths of the votes cast." C:XI:Art100 "The revision of the Constitution is complete when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast in a referendum."
Source:
The 1991 Constitution of Mauritania, art. 78(2-3) and 100
|
2006/12/30
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
d) 3/4 of all votes
Source:
Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Morocco
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 125, Electoral Law
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Mozambique
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Namibia
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/16
|
|
Netherlands
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/09/06
|
|
Niger
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Source:
Code electoral article 129
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Nigeria
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
b) Simple or two-thirds majority. It depends, if the referendum concerns the creation of a new state or of a local government area.
C:8 "(1) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new State shall only be passed if - [...] (b) a proposal for the creation of the State is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the State originated; (c) the result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the States of the Federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; [...] (3) A bill for a Law of a House of Assembly for the purpose of creating a new local government area shall only be passed if - [...] (b) a proposal for the creation of the local government area is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the local government area where the demand for the proposed local government area originated; (c) the result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of the members in each local government council in a majority of all the local government councils in the State; and (d) the result of the referendum is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of the House of Assembly."
Source:
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, art. 8
|
2006/12/31
|
|
Norway
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Peru
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
art. 42 de la Ley de los Derechos de Control y Participacion Ciudadanos
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Philippines
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
Simple
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Poland
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003
|
2005/10/30
|
|
Portugal
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/20
|
|
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
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Senegal
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Article 103 de la constitution
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Seychelles
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Atleast 60% for mandatory referendum
Source:
Article 91 (1) of the Constitution.
|
2005/04/01
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2005/06/08
|
|
Singapore
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
Constitution, article 5A (5)
|
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. Constitution
|
2005/04/14
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
If YES passes it is promulgated by the president; no requirement for pass
Source:
www.somalilandforum.com
|
2005/04/13
|
|
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
|
d. Other (specify below)
|
The following two conditions must be met for a referendum to be binding. The number of those voting against the proposal must be greater than those in favour. In addition to this, those who have voted against must constitute more than half of those who have cast valid votes in the parliamentary election. If this majority is obtained, the newly elected Riksdag may not make any change to the Constitution.
Source:
The Instrument of the Government Ch. 8, Section 16: Official Website of the Parliament: http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Start/Bestall/Sprakversioner/English---engelska1/Sveriges-grundlagar-och-riksdagsordningen1/ (2012);
Fact sheet on referenda provided by the Information Department of the Riksdag: www.riksdagen.se/.../Faktablad_E14.pdf (2012)
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
c. Double majority (simple majority overall plus simple majority in certain number of first tier authorities) (specify below)
|
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.
Not all mandatory referendums require a double majority.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 140, 142
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Togo
|
e. Not applicable
|
Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin
|
2005/05/13
|
|
Tonga
|
e. Not applicable
|
N/A
|
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)
|
2/3rds of total voters.
Source:
Article 84 of the constitution.
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-
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Ukraine
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
|
2005/03/17
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/09
|
|
Uruguay
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
Se requiere mayoría absoluta sobre el total de habilitados para sufragar, que son, como vimos en el punto anterior, los integrantes del Cuerpo Electoral, que están inscriptos en el Registro Civico Nacional y que como tal son electores.
Source:
Artículos 40 y 43 de la Ley N° 16.017 de 20 de enero de 1989.
|
2006/04/11
|
|
Vanuatu
|
b. Qualified majority (specify % below)
|
2/3 majority
Source:
Electoral Commission of Vanuatu
|
2016/01/27
|
|
Viet Nam
|
e. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/25
|
|
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
|
a. Simple majority (>50%)
|
Source:
The 1967 Referendum Act
|
2006/10/16
|
