A referendum is a vote in which all the voters of an area are asked to decide directly on one particular proposal, rather than to elect a person. Which of the following situations is the best example of a referendum?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → All the registered voters of a town are asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on whether the town’s main market should be closed to cars.
A referendum has three parts: all the voters of an area take part, they decide directly, and the vote is on one proposal, not on electing a person.
In Option (2) all the registered voters of the town vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on one proposal, closing the main market to cars. All three parts are present.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) All the registered voters of a town vote to choose their new mayor from three candidates. — Incorrect. The voters elect a person (the mayor); they do not decide on a proposal.
Option (3) The 30 members of the town council vote on whether the town’s main market should be closed to cars. — Incorrect. Only 30 council members vote, not all the voters of the town.
Option (4) A newspaper asks 500 people of the town whether they would like the main market to be closed to cars, and prints the results. — Incorrect. Only 500 people are asked, not all the voters, and their answers decide nothing.