Referendum & Popular Consultation

Here you will find information on referendums and referendum petitions.

Referendum

Petitions for referendums are legislative proposals submitted by citizens. They can initiate a legislative procedure in the National Council themselves. In the first step, a petition for a referendum requires a certain number of declarations of support in order to be initiated. If the required number is reached, the petition for a referendum is initiated and can be signed by citizens in the second step. If 100,000 signatures are obtained, the petition for a referendum must be discussed in the National Council. Therefore, in the first step of a petition for a referendum there is the possibility to submit a declaration of support and in the second step to sign the petition for a referendum. A declaration of support automatically counts as a signature for the petition for a referendum.

For which referendum petitions can I currently submit a declaration of support?

Information on currently registered referendum petitions for which statements of support can be submitted can be found here.

Where & how can I submit my declaration of support for a referendum petition?

In order to initiate a petition for a referendum, a sufficient number of declarations of support must be available.

You can submit statements of support in Innsbruck in two ways:

• online (for this you need the mobile signature or ID Austria)
• in person at Service Unit Registration and residents' affairs, passport matters - Declarations of support for referendums & elections Please draw a number under the designation "Declaration of support" and do not forget an official photo ID in the original.

Where & how can I sign a petition for a referendum?

In order for an initiated petition for a referendum to be dealt with in the National Council, there must be a sufficient number of signatures.

You can submit signatures in Innsbruck in two ways:

• online (for this you need the mobile signature or ID Austria)
• in person during the registration week on the 6th floor of the city hall - room 6101

When can I sign referendum petitions in person?

Who is eligible to vote?

All Austrian citizens who have the right to vote for the National Council on 24 April 2023 and who are registered in the voter registry of a municipality as of the cut-off date of 13 March 2023 .

Persons who have already submitted a valid declaration of support for a current referendum petition may no longer participate in the respective registration procedure, as their declaration of support already counts towards the result of the referendum petition.

Referendum

The referendum is held before a law is passed and is used by politicians to ask the opinion of the Austrian population before final decisions are made.

As soon as there is a referendum, you will find more info about it here.