Kingdom of Denmark: Referendum, 3 December 2015

At stake in this election:

• This referendum will decide whether Denmark will replace the “opt-out” agreement with an “opt-in” agreement that will result in Denmark joining 22 European Union legislative acts.  

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972)
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT (since 3 October 2011)
• Assembly: Denmark has a unicameral Folketing (People’s Assembly) composed of 179 seats with members serving 4-year terms.

Electoral requirements:

• For the referendum to be valid, a minimum of 30% of registered voters must participate in the vote. The referendum will pass with a simple majority vote.[1]

Main provisions in the referendum:

• The referendum asks if voters support the change to an “opt-in” agreement with the European Union on 22 new pieces of legislation.

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 5,581,503 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 4,145,105 (2015)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,831,484 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Denmark a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Denmark ratified CEDAW: Yes (21 April 1983)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 67 (37.43%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 4 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Denmark a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Denmark ratified CRPD: Yes (24 July 2009)

·         Population with a disability: 837,225