Referendum; Availability of Registration Lists

If the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Sports, and Integration, or, if applicable, the Bavarian Constitutional Court, approves the application for authorization, the referendum must be held within eight to twelve weeks after its publication in the State Gazette (Art. 65(3) LWG).

During this period, leading up to the start of the registration period, the municipalities must take the necessary preparatory measures, such as compiling the voter rolls and publicizing the local registration offices and individual registration times in accordance with local custom. Official election notices are not sent to eligible voters. It is the responsibility of the petitioners or initiators of the referendum to inform eligible voters in detail about their proposal and to urge them to register. They must obtain the registration lists and forward them to the independent municipalities and district offices no later than two weeks before the start of the registration period. The registration lists must contain the full text of the referendum (text and justification of the draft bill) or the motion to recall the state parliament (§ 78, Annex 20 LWO).

The registration period lasts 14 days. During this time, the municipalities must make the registration lists available for eligible voters to sign. They must designate the registration locations and hours so that every eligible voter has sufficient opportunity to participate in the referendum. The State Election Act and the State Election Regulations contain minimum requirements in this regard that every municipality must observe, including registration opportunities on weekends and in the evenings. Registration locations are generally town halls. There is no mail-in voting for referendums. Anyone who, due to illness or physical disability, is unable to visit a registration site during the entire registration period—or can do so only with unreasonable difficulty—may authorize an assistant to complete the registration on their behalf. Special registration opportunities must be provided for those wishing to register at certain facilities, such as nursing homes, hospitals, and correctional facilities. Under certain conditions, eligible voters may also register at registration centers in other municipalities within Bavaria.