First stage: counting
After voting closes:
- ballots are counted at polling stations
- protocols are prepared
- results are transmitted through the electoral system
At this stage, procedural accuracy and transparency are especially important.
Second stage: official results
At the central level, the data from all polling stations are consolidated and an official result is announced. At that point:
- turnout is assessed
- the voting outcome is determined
- the legal validity of the referendum result is established
If the proposal is approved
If the constitutional proposal receives the required support and the referendum satisfies the legal conditions, then:
- the new constitutional text is formally confirmed
- official promulgation follows
- transitional and technical measures begin
- ordinary legislation may need to be aligned with the new Constitution
If support is insufficient
If the proposal does not receive enough support, or if the legal requirements are not met, the text does not automatically enter into force. Further political or legal discussion may then be required.
Timeline after 15 March
Why the post-vote stage matters
Many people think a referendum is only a one-day event. In reality, the implementation phase after the vote is just as important. Adopting a text and integrating it into the legal order are two different tasks.
Main idea
The key question after a referendum is not only who won, but how the approved decision is translated into the legal system.