Home > 2 Organising the elections > HUNGARY - Act CCXXXVIII of 2013 on Initiating Referendums, the European Citizens’ Initiative and Referendum Procedure
 
 
 
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5. Verification of the signatures
 

(1) After that a final resolution under subsection (3) of section 22 of the National Election Commission has stated that the number of valid signatures is at least two hundred thousand, the deadline within the meaning of subsection (1) of section 14 and subsection (1) of section 19 shall – in the case of referendum initiatives having the same content – temporarily cease from the day following the day on which the resolution of the National Election Commission became final.


(2) In the case provided for in subsection (1) above, the organiser must hand over each signature sheet to the National Election Office within 15 days after that the resolution determining the result of the verification of the signatures has become final.


(3) When handing over the signature sheets, the organiser may make a declaration in which he states that he withdraws his referendum initiative.


(4) In case of a failure to comply with the obligation specified in subsection (2) above, the National Election Commission shall impose a fine of its own motion. The amount of this fine is one thousand forints for each signature sheet that has not been handed over.


(5) In the case of a temporary cessation within the meaning of subsection (1),


a) if the National Assembly orders, by virtue of subsection (1) of Article 8 of the Fundamental Law, the referendum in a legally binding way, the referendum initiative temporarily ceased shall cease definitively,


b) if the decision of the National Assembly ordering the referendum does not become final by virtue of section 33 of Act CLI of 2011 on the Constitutional Court, the temporary cessation shall cease on the day which follows the publication of the decision of the Constitutional Court, and within five days the National Election Office shall hand over to the organiser the signature sheets containing the certified question, in the quantity he has specified.