Referendum is a form of direct democracy that allows voters to decide on specific issues. It differs from votes at elections, which reflect voters’ preferences across a range of issues. Referenda can be mandatory or consultative, and the results can be binding or non-binding.
Typically, referendums are held at a local or state level, although some countries and organizations hold them at the national level. Most referenda are citizen initiated, but some are government or electoral body initiated. Government initiated referendums are usually non-binding and are used to change laws, amend constitutions, or enact other legal provisions.
The outcome of a referendum depends on how it is conducted and the wording of the ballot. A referendum can be a single choice question where voters are asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’, a multiple choice question where voters are asked to choose from one or more options, or a open question where voters are invited to write in their own answer.
Supporters of referendums argue that, in an age of increasing voter apathy and disenchantment with representational democracy, referendums can help re-engage voters with politics and democracy. However, critics claim that referendums can create ill-informed choices, where voters make decisions on a transient whim or on the basis of incomplete knowledge and that they are susceptible to being swayed by propaganda, strong personalities, expensive advertising campaigns, and other factors that are not related to the issue at hand. They also argue that the use of referendums can lead to tyranny of the majority.
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