Proposal for a local referendum to be held

Hlavní informace

Members of the public may also initiate the holding of a local referendum in their municipality.

Citizens wishing to initiate a local referendum must file their proposal with the municipal authority.

The proposal is filed by a preparatory committee, comprising at least three persons eligible to vote in the local referendum.

Týká se vás to pokud

You are interested in initiating a local referendum in the municipality in which you are registered as a permanent resident (or for citizens of other Member States, the municipality in which they are registered as residents of Czechia).  

The preparatory committee’s proposal must be supported by the signatures of a certain percentage of people eligible to vote in the local referendum. The specific number of petitioners depends on the number of inhabitants in the municipality.

Kdy službu řešit

You may file a proposal for a local referendum at any time.

The proposal is filed through a preparatory committee.

Vyřízení služby

Co potřebujete pokud službu řešíte

The preparatory committee’s proposal must specify

• the territory in which the local referendum is proposed,
• the wording of the issue to be voted on,
• a justification of the proposal,
• an estimate of the costs of holding the local referendum and implementing the decision if it is adopted through the local referendum, and the manner in which these costs will be covered from the municipal budget,
• the name of the member representing the preparatory committee,
• the full names of the members of the preparatory committee, their dates of birth and the place where they are registered as permanent residents, and
• the signatures of the members of the preparatory committee.

A signature sheet must be sent together with the proposal. This sheet must contain the signatures of the authorised persons supporting the proposal.

Kde a jak službu řešit

The proposal may be sent or submitted in person.

The proposal must contain the signatures of all the members of the preparatory committee.

The proposal must be filed with the municipal authority.

If the local referendum applies to a city district or city borough in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem, Pardubice, Opava or Liberec, the proposal must be filed with the office of the relevant city district or city borough.

If the local referendum applies to the whole of a statutory city or Prague, the proposal must be filed with the city municipality.

Doplňující informace

Jaký má služba benefit

A local referendum, and the public’s option to initiate one, represent the exercising of the basic right to self-government and participation in political events in the municipality.

Možnosti odvolání

The preparatory committee has the right to seek protection through the court if

• it does not agree with a request by the municipal authority to correct shortcomings in the proposal, or
• the council has not decided on the preparatory committee’s proposal or has decided not to declare a local referendum.

Časté dotazy

Can a local referendum be held on any matter?

No. A local referendum cannot be held on certain matters (even on the initiative of the council itself). These matters are specified in Section 7 of Act No 22/2004 Coll. on local referenda.

What details are required in the signature sheet?

Each signature sheet must specify

• the territory in which the local referendum is to be held,
• the wording of the issue to be voted on,
• the full names and addresses of the members of the preparatory committee,
• a warning to the authorised persons calling for the referendum that they cannot sign the sheet more than once.

The following details of the petitioners are required:

• first name and surname,
• date of birth,
• address, and
• handwritten signature.

Where can I obtain more information?

From your municipal authority.