Elections in Hungary - Referendums Since 1989

Referendums Since 1989

Until 1997 (so in case of the first two referendums) for successful referendums 50% voter turnout was necessary. Since 1997, 25% yeses or 25% nos out of the 18+ year old citizens are enough for valid referendums. So referendums since 2007 can have the following three results:

  • YES, if there are more yes votes than no votes and the number of yeses are at least the 25% of the 18+ year old citizens
  • NO, if there are more no votes than yes votes and the number of nos are at least the 25% of the 18+ year old citizens
  • low turnout, if both the number of yeses and nos are lower than the 25% of the 18+ year old citizens


26 November 1989

  • "Should the presidental elections be held after the general elections?"
    • result: YES
  • "Should the party organizations move out from the work places?"
    • result: YES
  • "Should the Communist Party account for the properties managed by it?"
    • result: YES
  • "Should the Workers' Militia be disbanded?"
    • result: YES

29 July 1990

  • "Should the president be elected directly?"
    • result: low turnout
    • turnout: 14%

16 November 1997

  • "Do You agree, that Republic of Hungary should ensure its protection by joining to the NATO?"
    • result: YES
    • yeses: 85% of votes (42% of 18+ year old citizens)
    • turnout: 49%

12 April 2003

  • "Do you agree that Republic of Hungary becomes the member of the European Union?"
    • result: YES
    • yeses: 88% of votes (40% of 18+ year old citizens)
    • turnout: 46%

5 December 2004

  • about the hospitals to remain in state- or municipal property
    • result: low turnout (the yeses did not reach the 25% of the 18+ year old citizens)
    • turnout: 37.5%
  • about giving the Hungarian citizenship to those non-Hungarian citizens, not having residence in Hungary, who declare themselves to be Hungarian and able to justify their Hungarian identity according to the 2001. LXII. 19. Law
    • result: low turnout (the yeses did not reach the 25% of the 18+ year old citizens)
    • turnout: 37.5%

9 March 2008

  • about not to introduce tuition fee for universities
    • result: YES
    • yeses: 82.5% (41.6% of 18+ year old citizens)
    • turnout: 50.4%
  • about not to introduce visit fee
    • result: YES
    • yeses: 82.7% (41.7% of 18+ year old citizens)
    • turnout: 50.4%
  • about not to introduce daily hospital fee
    • result: YES
    • yeses: 84.3%
    • turnout: 50.4% (42.5% of 18+ year old citizens)

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