Citizens' petition: 3,758 valid signatures submitted - quorum met
Possible referendum on the question of refugee accommodation in the district of Biemenhorst
The citizens' petition opposing the planned construction of a refugee shelter in the district of Biemenhorst (Am Takenkamp) has met the legally required quota. After verification by the city administration, 3,758 valid signatures were submitted. The legally required quorum of 3,511 valid signatures was thus reached. As a result, a referendum could be held.
A total of 3,985 signatures for the citizens' petition were submitted by the initiators in due time. They were then carefully checked by the administration for legal validity. Signatures that did not meet the legal criteria (age, place of residence, nationality), that were not legible or signatures that had been submitted more than once were declared "invalid".
30 August topic in the city council
On 30 August, the issue will be discussed by the city council. The administration will prepare a proposal for the council to consider the petition formally admissible, as the necessary quorum of signatures has been reached.
If the majority of the city council did not agree with the content of the valid citizens' petition, a referendum would be held. All citizens of Bocholt entitled to vote would then be called upon to vote "yes" or "no" on the question of the construction of refugee accommodation. The day of the vote will be set at the council meeting on 30 August.
The quorum for a successful referendum is regulated by law and is 15% of the citizens of Bocholt who are entitled to vote. The exact number will be determined by the city administration on the basis of the voting list.
For comparison and as an approximation: 58,515 citizens were eligible to vote in the last local elections.