Citizens' petitions and referendum in the municipality; implementation
The "citizens' petition and referendum" instruments introduced in Bavaria in 1995 enable citizens to decide directly on many municipal matters.
Stand: 28.07.2025. Link zum BayernPortal
Informationen
A referendum has the effect of a municipal council resolution.
Citizens' petitions/referendums are only permitted on matters within the municipality's own sphere of influence. Excluded from this are matters that are the responsibility of the first mayor by law, issues relating to the internal organization of the municipal administration, the legal status of future first mayors, the legal relationships of municipal council members, mayors and municipal employees and the budget statutes.
The citizens' petition must be submitted to the municipality and contain a question to be decided with a ''yes'' or ''no'' as well as a statement of reasons. It must also name up to three people who are authorized to represent the signatories. Depending on the size of the municipality, the petition must be signed by at least 3% to 10% of the municipality's citizens.
If there are no legal objections to the petition, the municipal council must determine its admissibility; a referendum must be held. In a referendum, the question posed is decided in the sense that it has been answered by the majority of valid votes cast. This majority must
- at least 20% in municipalities with up to 50,000 inhabitants,
- up to 100,000 inhabitants at least 15 % and
- at least 10 % in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants
of those entitled to vote (i.e. the members of the municipality entitled to vote).
You can find out more from your municipality.
Once the petition has been submitted, the municipal council must decide on the admissibility of the petition without delay, but at the latest within one month.
Once admissibility has been determined, the referendum must be held on a Sunday within 3 months; the deadline may be extended by a maximum of 3 months in agreement with the authorized representatives.
Art. 18a Municipal Code for the Free State of Bavaria (Municipal Code - GO)
Regional Supplement (Editorial responsibility: City of Erlangen)
FAQ on the citizens' petition "Preserving living space in Hindenburgstraße and the surrounding area" - erlangen.de
On June 29, the citizens of Erlangen will decide on the petition "Preserve living space in Hindenburgstraße and the surrounding area". The question of the petition is: "Are you in favor of the city of Erlangen using all permissible means within its own sphere of influence for the area bounded by Bismarckstraße, Hindenburgstraße, Universitätsstraße and eastern Stadtmauerstraße to secure and strengthen the existing residential development by allowing only residential use in the future where only residential use has been approved to date?" - Here you can find FAQ - answers to frequently asked questions.
Electoral Office
The electoral office is set up temporarily around six months before general votes (referendums and plebiscites) and elections (local, district, state and European elections). Responsible for the overall implementation - e.g. electoral roll, polling stations, polling assistants, voter notification, postal voting and more.
Office: Rathausplatz 1, Room 115, 91052 Erlangen
Telephone: 09131/862208, e-mail: wahlamt@stadt.erlangen.de
Opening hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Extended opening hours for local elections
Due to the shortened application deadline, the electoral office is offering extended or additional opening hours for the issuing of postal voting documents in the town hall, 1st floor, small meeting room:
Wednesday, February 18
Wednesday, February 25
Wednesday, March 4
Wednesday, March 11
Wednesday, March 18, always until 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 28 and Saturday, March 14, both from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Information on the local elections is available online at www.erlangen.de/kommunalwahl.
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Öffnungszeiten
On-site appointments are only possible by individual arrangement. Please contact us by phone, e-mail or contact form.