Questions tagged [referendum]
Questions related to a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision. This tag should be used alongside the country when for a specific referendum.
109
questions
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is it customary to hold off recognition of a state that seceded from another country through a referendum?
WASHINGTON -- Even if Quebec voters had said "Oui" to independence in
1995, the United States wasn't going to say "Yes" to immediately
recognizing the new country or including it ...
user28660
2
votes
1
answer
699
views
Are there fewer street protests in Switzerland than in other democratic countries?
Street protests are a wasteful activity: people walk on the streets for hours, wasting their own time, as well as the time of cops and drivers. They do this in order to have the government change its ...
- 5,957
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is it true that there is no method of initiating a direct citizen referendum in the US, which a number of other countries have?
Just looking for confirmation that many countries have ways for citizens to vote directly on rulings on the federal level but that the US has absolutely no similar such construct.
- 2,730
5
votes
2
answers
171
views
Have politicians led recall campaigns?
Why have U.S. politicians (mostly Republican, it seems) fought election fraud in the courts instead of using their following of voters to sign a recall petition against the candidates they thought ...
- 811
3
votes
1
answer
227
views
Why did a majority vote against the 2010 French Guianan status referendum?
French Guianan voters were asked whether they wanted more power to be
given to the local government based in Cayenne.[3] French Guiana was
an overseas region and an overseas department of France, ...
user28660
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Which is the most recent European country that joined the EU without a referendum?
Twice, in 1972 and in 1994, the Norwegian government had tried to join
the EU (still the EEC, in 1973) and by doing so, leave the EFTA.
However, both the times, the membership of the EU was rejected ...
user28660
-6
votes
4
answers
355
views
Was 1992 Bosnian Independence referendum a sham voting, in light of 99.7% of votes "For"? [closed]
One thing that caught my eye in the referendum results cited in Wikipedia seemed improbably high at 92.7% for the independence.
The turnout to the referendums was reported as 63.7%, with 92.7% of ...
- 17.6k
4
votes
1
answer
131
views
Effect of wording on outcome of referendum
In this famous episode of "Yes, Prime Minister", Sir Humphrey explains how it is possible to get two opposite results to the same opinion poll, by changing the wording and the framing. I ...
- 5,957
2
votes
1
answer
114
views
Need help understanding NYS 2023 ballot proposals [closed]
The ballot proposals state:
A. The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution
removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small
city school districts, so they ...
- 123
3
votes
1
answer
215
views
What were the policy objectives sought to be achieved by California’s proposition 47?
Prop 47 modified the status of shoplifting under a certain value threshold from a felony into a misdemeanour for the first offence. What was the objective and impetus for doing this?
What were the ...
- 270
1
vote
4
answers
354
views
Besides Iran, are there any other countries which have held referendums to determine the future political system with only one candidate?
On 30-31 March, 1979 a referendum was held in Iran to determine the political system of the country (Previously the monarchial regime had been overthrown on February 11, 1979).
But the problem with ...
- 453
1
vote
2
answers
319
views
Why have European regions with strong desires for independence not been allowed to have either local parliaments or referendums? [closed]
Is it the fault of the government's progressiveness that regions with strong desires for independence and self-rule, such as Corsica, the Basque region, Catalonia, Bavaria, Moravia, and Sicily, have ...
- 2,930
3
votes
2
answers
280
views
(2014?) Proposal of an alternative referendum form in Crimea and Donbass under the supervision of the UN / OSCE
I'm trying to find out if there were (official) proposals* to hold alternative forms of referendums in the two areas. I know that the UN and OSCE have criticized and not recognized the referenda that ...
- 155
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Could the Kaliningrad region join the EU without becoming an independent state if a referendum or proposition is voted for by the people?
Through the scheme decided by the highest court with jurisdiction in and over Russia at the time, the European Court of Human Rights declared what the terrorist regime of Russia (see Parliamentary ...
- 136
-1
votes
2
answers
205
views
Could the government legally create an election in which only some people could vote? [closed]
I was considering that if I were in some lawmaking position I would consider advocating that abortion rights should be voted on by females and the result of that election would become law.
On ...
- 2,730
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
How common is for presidential term extensions to be bundled with other issues in referendums?
By presidential term extensions, I mean broadly measures like: allowing more terms than before, extending their length, and even allowing special purpose measures that effectively apply the previous ...
1
vote
1
answer
330
views
Has Ukraine explained how their proposed resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war would work if their referendum fails? [closed]
Ukraine has indicated that any compromise in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, such as declaring neutrality, must be put to a referendum after Russian troops withdraw.
[Ukrainian president] Zelenskyy ...
- 36.6k
2
votes
2
answers
288
views
How to prevent a "referendum spam"?
In Switzerland, whenever a bill is accepted by the parliament, if 50,000 citizens sign a petition against it in a 18 months period, there is a referendum and the bill can be canceled.
Suppose another ...
- 5,957
18
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How was Barbados able to remove the Queen as head of state without a referendum?
I have been reading about Barbados removing the Queen as its head of state and replacing the monarchy with a presidential system. I thought this was taking place after a referendum, but I then saw ...
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can Scotland hold an informal independence opinion-poll without Westminster's consent?
Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said that she would hold an independence referendum before 2023.
Our democratic mandate to allow people to decide the country's future is beyond question. And at this ...
- 173
13
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Why do referendums use a binary choice rather than a numerical score?
In some democracies, citizens may be asked if they accept a law or the modification of a law in a "yes or no" referendum.
Most of the time, legal texts are complicated and specialized, so ...
- 293
3
votes
1
answer
109
views
Has the Swiss Federal Council recommended differently than the Parliament in any popular votes?
In Switzerland (at least in recent times), the Federal Council issues explanatory booklets for matters subject to popular votes (e.g. constitutional amendments and initiatives, referendums against ...
- 1,764
0
votes
1
answer
289
views
How does Ireland maintain constitutional stability when it is relatively easy to amend the Constitution? [closed]
It is relatively easier to amend the Constitution in Ireland than in other countries.
To change the Irish Constitution, the amendment must:
Be approved by both the lower and upper house of Parliament ...
- 10.5k
9
votes
2
answers
856
views
How are U.S. states allowed to put marijuana legalization on ballots when it's against federal law?
Five states will now legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical use.
During the November elections, A majority of New Jersey and Arizona residents voted yes on ballot measures to make ...
- 4,881
19
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Why can't California Proposition 17 be passed via the legislative process and thus needs a ballot measure?
I'm researching CA-Prop 17 which allows for parolees to vote.
I ask of every ballot measure that I vote on: Why can't this law be passed via the normal legislative processes? Why does it require a ...
- 321
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What would Alexander Lukashenko gain from a referendum on Belarus joining the Russian Federation?
In response to the protests regarding the Belarusian presidential election, Lukashenko in early September pondered the possibility of a referendum on Belarus joining the Russian Federation.
Suppose ...
- 772
3
votes
1
answer
207
views
In the 2020 constitutional referendum, what factors explain the low approval in Nenets Autonomous Okrug?
In the 2020 Russian constitutional referendum, official reports state that Russia-wide, 78% of voters approved and 22% rejected the new constitution. I noticed that in one federal subject, according ...
- 48.6k
2
votes
1
answer
180
views
How central are referendums to the UK constitution?
I can't remember the link, but someone on Quora typed
Referendums are now a central part of the UK constitution. Voters in the UK have spoken, and they will speak again.
How true is this?
What ...
user6241
4
votes
1
answer
250
views
If a referendum on Northern Ireland joining the Republic of Ireland is narrowly defeated, what is the trigger for another referendum?
From Wikipedia's Good Friday Agreement article:
The agreement reached was that Northern Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, and would remain so until a majority of the people both of Northern ...
- 941
2
votes
1
answer
356
views
Is there a more in-depth explanation why Asians in (Greater) London voted to leave the EU, breaking with the national trend for ethnic minorities?
A ward-level BBC analysis of the 2016 EU referendum pointed out these patterns of Asian vote in London, breaking with the national trend:
White populations were generally more pro-Leave, and ethnic ...
4
votes
1
answer
282
views
Losers Consent, Winners Lament? [closed]
There have been angry protests against the UK Parliamentary Election result and I commented that the result was democracy in action.
In response, another person said that the protests are a result of ...
- 596
7
votes
3
answers
359
views
Is it possible for the UK Parliament to create a legally binding referendum?
Throughout the Brexit saga, one thing I’ve heard repeatedly is that due to the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, referendums are not legally binding:
Parliamentary sovereignty is a principle ...
- 26k
10
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Can a 'Second Referendum' on Brexit contain three options?
Lots of people seem to be calling for a second referendum on the United Kingdom's status as members of the European Union.
The Labour Party policy is to renegotiate a deal with the European Union and ...
- 666
1
vote
1
answer
120
views
What options do supporters of a confirmatory referendum have?
There is a considerable number of MPs who support a confirmatory referendum on the deal. What legal options do these MPs have now? If there are several possible strategies they can pursue, which one ...
- 2,446
1
vote
5
answers
419
views
Has the UK had an election, referendum, or similar result either not implemented or put again before being implemented (in modern times)?
Are there any examples from modern times of the result of a UK election, referendum, etc., not being implemented, or the question being put a second time (perhaps in modified form) before the first ...
- 124
3
votes
1
answer
408
views
Has Boris Johnson's government explained why its latest Brexit proposal does not include a referendum for Northern Ireland leaving the single market?
The "final offer" that Boris Johnson has made to the EU includes a provision that the single-market (for goods) arrangement for Northern Ireland needs to be explicitly approved and then extended by ...
-2
votes
1
answer
257
views
Brexit - What was the question that the Referendum answered? [closed]
In Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Deep Thought comes up with the answer to the question of 'Life, the Universe, and Everything', which is 42. It then says the that the answer seems ...
- 107
5
votes
3
answers
769
views
Does Hong Kong have the right to hold a referendum for independence?
Does Hong Kong have the right to hold a referendum for independence? I am wondering if there was some kind of legal agreement when Hong Kong was ceded to China by Britain that guaranteed that Hong ...
user28660
4
votes
1
answer
249
views
Is organizing "piggybacked" referendums something unusual in EU?
Romanians were also called to vote for a referendum when voting for EU Parliament elections in 2019. However, the organizing for diaspora voting was very problematic and many could not vote at all:
...
- 53.4k
4
votes
1
answer
207
views
Was there an OSCE mission observing the Scottish independence referendum?
Even though the United Kingdom is an established democracy, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) did observe for instance the 2017 general election. There's both a "needs ...
1
vote
1
answer
89
views
How many local recounts were conducted in the Scottish independence referendum?
A 2014 article in the Telegraph noted that
The chief counting officer for the Scottish independence referendum has confirmed there can be no national recount even if the result is close.
But Mary ...
8
votes
1
answer
505
views
Are there any polls on the new Swiss immigration referendum question?
Apparently after the "betrayal" of the first Swiss immigration-limiting referendum (of Feb 2014) by their parliament, which passed a substantially watered down law (in 2016), there's now ...
5
votes
1
answer
626
views
Why isn't Northern Ireland demanding a referendum on joining Ireland, similar to the one in Scotland? [duplicate]
Northern Ireland looks like it's in a perfect position for a referendum on leaving the UK: it could instantly join its neighbor Ireland and remain a part of the EU, it has a long history of protesting ...
- 52.7k
10
votes
6
answers
933
views
What's the difference between repeating elections every few years and repeating a referendum after a few years?
There's a lot of talk in the UK these days about how holding a second referendum on Brexit would be "undemocratic" and "go against the spirit of referendums". However repeating a vote doesn't seem all ...
- 52.7k
2
votes
1
answer
183
views
Was the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement called "confirmatory" at the time?
In the context of a 2nd Brexit referendum discussion
Peter Kyle Labour, Hove
Last week, 268 Members voted for the principle of a confirmatory ballot—the largest number of votes for any alternative ...
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What is a "confirmatory" referendum in the context of Brexit?
The topic of a second referendum on Brexit has been discussed since the time of the first referendum. However, recently, there is a lot of talk in UK politics about a "confirmatory" ...
- 158
1
vote
0
answers
29
views
Can a traditional nonconnected PAC spend money to support or oppose state ballot measures?
Assume a fully compliant FEC-registered nonconnected multicandidate PAC that already makes and reports direct contributions and also independent expenditures to influence the election of candidates in ...
- 11
23
votes
3
answers
5k
views
If/When UK leaves the EU, can a future goverment conduct a referendum to join the EU?
I wonder if after the current debate, the UK ends up leaving the EU on any terms, how soon can a future government conduct a referendum to join the EU?
- 7,513
18
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Why are there no referendums in the US?
The US has a (self-imposed) reputation of being a supremely democratic and free country.
However, unlike many other democratic countries on the planet, the US has never had any national referendums.
...
- 213
3
votes
2
answers
455
views
What reason(s) have UK politicians given for not wanting another referendum on whether the UK should exit the EU or not? [duplicate]
This question is different from Why doesn't the UK hold a second Brexit referendum to clarify what the public wants from Brexit? because that question is asking about voting on the form that ...
- 941