A referendum is a method by which voters are directly asked to decide on a government decision. This differs from elections, in which voters are given the opportunity to express preferences for political parties and candidates. A referendum can be used to approve or reject a local ordinance enacted by a city or charter county council, to amend the constitution, or to repeal a state law. It may also be used to decide on international treaties, although in practice such a proposal is often put to a general election instead.
Supporters of referendums argue that direct democracy can help to overcome voter apathy and disillusionment with traditional forms of politics, particularly where the governing party is split on an issue. In these situations, referendums can offer a solution by providing a route to a resolution without splitting the party (the 1975 UK referendum on EU membership provides an example of this).
Critics of referendums claim that they weaken representative democracy by depriving elected representatives of their authority and power to represent the interests of their constituents. They also argue that referendums can lead to ill-informed decisions by risk-averse electorates who lack the information necessary to make an informed choice, or who are influenced by cues – such as those provided by their own party, prominent opinion leaders, or groups and organizations involved in the campaign – that may be based on distortion or misinformation. In order to address these concerns, some jurisdictions have implemented measures to ensure that referendum campaigns are fair and balanced. For example, the independent referendum commission in Ireland is responsible for disseminating unbiased information to the public during a ballot, and a Californian initiative requires the publication of a voter information guide that contains an impartial summary of each proposition on the ballot.