Annual report 2015 Dutch Electoral Council

2015 was a special year for the Electoral Council in several respects. Combined elections for provincial councils and the governing boards of the water authorities were held for the first time on 18 March. Furthermore, elections to the three island councils of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Bonaire, elections to the Senate and redivision elections were organized this year. Since 1 July 2015, voters can request a referendum on almost any recently enacted law (and treaty). A sufficient number of preliminary and final requests were submitted for one particular referendable Act: the Act approving the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. This referendum will be held on 6 April 2016. The Electoral Council made 14 recommendations in 2015 - a record number.