Govt proposes bill to regulate public referendums
The bill specifies that voting must be held within 90 days of the request, with a minimum lead time of 45 days.
The government has proposed new legislation in Parliament to establish a legal framework for conducting public referendums.
The bill was submitted by Inguraidhoo MP and PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah on behalf of the government.
The proposed legislation, published on the Parliament’s website, was scheduled for its first reading during Monday's sitting.
According to the government, the bill seeks to define the circumstances under which general referendums may be held, and to outline the roles and responsibilities of those initiating such referendums. It also aims to provide procedures to be followed by the Election Commission and address other relevant aspects of conducting votes.
The bill allows for public referendums to be held in four categories:
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Matters of public concern – where Parliament seeks to gauge public opinion on an issue within its legislative authority.
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Issues of national importance – where the President seeks a public vote on a matter deemed nationally significant.
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Constitutionally mandated referendums – including changes to fundamental rights, the presidential election system, or the duration of Parliament.
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Non-ratification of constitutional amendments – where a vote is used to determine public consent on amendments passed by Parliament but not ratified.
Referendums may be initiated either by a resolution passed by a majority of Parliament or through a presidential resolution. Both types of resolutions must specify:
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The full wording of the question posed to the public
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The rationale for holding the vote
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The proposed timeline for voting
An accompanying information sheet must be made public, outlining arguments for and against the proposed issue.
The bill specifies that voting must be held within 90 days of the request, with a minimum lead time of 45 days. The Election Commission is tasked with:
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Publishing the full question within five days of receiving the resolution
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Announcing the date of the vote within seven days of publication
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Notifying the President or Parliament if the vote cannot be held within the stated timeframe, and proposing a new date within the 90-day limit
The resolution for a referendum can only be withdrawn before the election date is announced.
President Mohamed Muizzu has previously proposed several issues to be decided by referendum. These include abolishing the second round of presidential elections, adopting a preferential voting system, holding presidential and parliamentary elections on the same date, and changing the presidential inauguration date to 11 November.
