A referendum is a public vote in which all eligible citizens decide directly on a specific political question, such as a law or important change.
From Latin *referendum* meaning ‘that which must be brought back’, from *referre* (to bring back, report). It originally referred to matters that had to be referred back to the people or a higher authority.
A referendum is democracy’s ‘ask the people’ button—leaders bring a question back to the public for a direct answer. Unlike elections, which choose people, referendums choose policies.
Historically, many referendums on suffrage, reproductive rights, and family law have directly affected women’s legal status while often being decided largely by male electorates. The term itself is neutral, but its political use has sometimes reinforced power imbalances when marginalized genders lacked equal participation.
When discussing referendums, note whose voices are included or excluded and avoid implying that a majority vote automatically reflects justice for all genders.
Acknowledge the work of women and gender-diverse activists who organized around key referendums to expand voting rights, bodily autonomy, and anti-discrimination protections.
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