Law on Referendums and Popular Initiatives

Serbia’s referendum and popular initiative law regulates direct public participation at national, provincial and local levels. A referendum is voting on a defined question; an initiative submits a proposal to the competent authority under statutory conditions. Collected signatures do not themselves mean adoption or mandatory calling of a referendum. Distinguish binding and consultative votes and the assembly’s competence over the proposed issue.

The relevant assembly and referendum administration have separate roles. Voters participate according to territory and electoral registration; proposers and initiative committees have particular powers. Proposal, signature and campaign conditions depend on the selected level. The law does not allow any group to decide every national or local matter without jurisdictional limits. Related electoral, funding and data protection rules may also matter. Check the actual procedure before using forms prepared for another jurisdiction.

Before collecting signatures, verify proposal wording, authority, prescribed form and procedure. Signature certification at municipal or city administration is free. Electronic initiatives depend on the relevant government regulation; an ordinary online petition does not automatically satisfy the legal requirements. Retain submitted documents and confirmations. For voting irregularities, document facts without compromising secrecy, then check who may submit the particular remedy, to which body and within which deadline.

The current law appears in Official Gazette 111/2021 of 25 November 2021, amended by 119/2021 of 10 December 2021. Both acts take effect the following day. Amendment Article 5 preserves the earlier law for referendums already called before that amendment. The new framework replaces 48/1994 and 11/1998. The official Legal Information System provides the specific text; the original 111/2021 PDF alone excludes 119/2021. Check the calling decision and current administration rules for the particular vote.

This is Avangarda’s informative editorial overview and translation, not an official translation. For a particular case, check the current law through the official source, relevant implementing rules and individual decisions, and seek qualified legal help where needed. This overview does not replace the legislation or a competent authority’s decision.

Distinguishes referendums from initiatives and helps check authority, signatures and protection in a particular procedure.

Voters under territorial and register rules, authorised proposers, initiative committees and authorities; their roles differ.

When starting an initiative, collecting signatures, examining a question or protecting voting rights.