20 thousand signatures were collected for the scooter referendum in Lisbon: The vote has not been finalized yet

The initiative launched to put the future of shared electric scooters to a public vote in Lisbon reached 20 thousand verified signatures.

The campaign, run by Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), has quadrupled the 5,000 signature threshold required to launch the municipal referendum process through a citizen initiative.

However, it is not yet certain that a scooter referendum will be held in Lisbon. The collection of signatures completes the first major phase of the process; The initiative must now go through the legal and political procedure at the Assembleia Municipal de Lisboa.

The question is what?

ACP's initiative aims to ask voters in a municipal referendum whether shared electric scooter systems should continue to be operated in public spaces in Lisbon.

So the initiative is not a blanket national referendum on a complete ban on personal electric scooters.

The focus of the debate is on shared scooter systems operating in the city.

From whom were 20 thousand signatures collected?

According to the ACP, 20 thousand signatures verified were collected from people over 18 years of age and registered as voters within the borders of the Municipality of Lisboa.

This detail is important because the right to participate in the possible municipal referendum depends on the respective voter status in Lisbon.

The signature campaign started among ACP members at the beginning of August and was later organized at physical collection points in different parts of the city. expanded.

The required threshold was 5 thousand

The 5 thousand signature threshold required to start the municipal referendum process through citizen initiative has been exceeded.

ACP reaching 20 thousand verified signatures means four times this threshold.

However, exceeding the number of signatures does not automatically determine the referendum date.

What will happen next?

The initiative must be submitted to the Assembleia Municipal de Lisboa.

During the municipal council process, the legal conditions of the proposal and the suitability of the referendum question will be evaluated.

If a decision is made to hold a referendum, there are also constitutional and legal review stages in the process.

Therefore, the correct situation as of September 23 is:

The threshold for public initiative to hold a referendum on shared scooters in Lisbon has been well exceeded, but the referendum is not yet final.

Why is it being discussed in Lisbon?

The ACP initiative brings the issue to the agenda under four main headings: mobility, security, accessibility and use of public space.

While scooters offer an alternative to cars for short urban journeys, parking on sidewalks, pedestrian access and traffic safety have long been part of the debate in Lisbon.

If the referendum process progresses, the debate will only be "to have a scooter or not?" It can be expected that it will not remain at the level. Current regulations regarding the operating conditions of shared systems and the use of public spaces are also important. will carry.

What's changing for users now?

There are no operational changes for now.

The operation of shared electric scooter systems does not end due to the delivery of signatures, and as of today, a new usage ban has not come into force.

The next concrete development will be the process at Assembleia Municipal de Lisboa.

Resources

Automóvel Club de Portugal — ACP recolhe 20 mil assinaturas em Lisboa para levar trotinetes partilhadas a referendo, 23 September 2026

https://www.acp.pt/o-clube/revista-acp/noticias-do-clube/detalhe/ACP-recolhe-20-mil-assinaturas-em-Lisboa-para-levar-trotinetes-partilhadas-a-referendo

Observador — ACP recolhe 20 mil assinaturas para levar trotinetes partilhadas a referendo municipal, 23 September 2026

https://observador.pt/2026/09/23/acp-recolhe-20-mil-assinaturas-para-levar-trotinetes-partilhadas-a-referendo-municipal/

Diário de Notícias — ACP recolheu 20 mil assinaturas de lisboetas para levar trotinetas a referendo municipal, 23 September 2026

https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/acp-recolheu-20-mil-assinaturas-de-lisboetas-para-levar-trotinetas-a-referendo-municipal