The Hungarian government is calling on repatriated cross-border Hungarians to participate in the referendum, it was announced today.
Government Spokesman Zoltán Kovács said that "the quota referendum is about whether Hungarians are prepared to accept the fact that others decide in their place on fundamental issues".
He also stated that "the referendum has become a symbolic cause of national reunification in view of the fact that this is the first time that it has become possible for repatriated cross-border Hungarians to also express their opinions in a Hungarian referendum".
Ilona Pálffy, president of the National Election Office, revealed that 259,000 repatriated Hungarians have registered so far, meaning the participation limit required for the referendum to be valid has risen to 4,230,000.
The referendum will only be valid if more than fifty percent of those eligible to vote place a legitimate vote, and this includes repatriated Hungarians who have applied to be included on the electoral register.
Pálffy pointed out that Hungarian citizens living outside Hungary can vote by post, providing they have registered to be included on the electoral register.
People who have already been entered onto the register on or after August 2013 do not have to register again unless their personal information has since changed.
Postal votes must reach the Election Office by October 1 but may also be submitted at Hungarian foreign representations, which are operating with extended opening hours during the period before the referendum, from September 17.