Why is a referendum related to direct democracy?

Answer 1

Voters are aware every year or so that they can participate in the election of representatives for the purpose of making laws for the country (state, county, city, town, etc.). In spite of this voter input, the elected representatives never seem to use their power for the benefit of the voters and instead use their power to benefit the rich and powerful who provided the campaign financing needed to get the representatives elected. Wouldn't it be great if the voters could elect specific laws rather than representatives? Well, this is what a referendum does and how it relates to direct democracy. Instead of voting for representatives who then vote for specific laws (or in reality don't vote for laws wanted by the voters), the voters vote directly for laws they want to have enacted. In California, referendums (or to be correct, "referenda") are on a statewide basis and cost interested persons perhaps $100,000,000 to obtain enactment by vote at a state-wide election. In New York State, the New York Constitution permits a referendum to be held by voters at any level of government lower than the state-wide level. This means that in xxxxx, N.Y. (a town of 3,333 residents and 2,000 registered voters, with only 1,200 showing up to vote in a typical election), a total of 601 registered voters can pass a local statute such as requiring the mayor and town to post on a website for all to see a summary of every payment made by the town, including the name/address of the payee, the date of payment, the purpose and work done for the payment, who authorized the payment, whether the payment was made pursuant to a contract that had open bidding - etc. Or, the voters (601 or more) could enact a local statute requiring the town to renounce its right to condemn local property for a non-public use (and to file a deed to such effect), thereby preventing the rich and powerful from condemning (seizing) local land to build another Wal-Mart or Home Depot shopping center.

For 29 different petitions (for referendums) being offered in NYC on a wholly non-profit, bi-partisan basis by the writer of this Answer, please look at www.lawmall.com/nycballotinitiatives.php A list of these 29 ballot initiatives (or referenda) follows:

# Congestion Pricing Is Made Illegal # Arrested Demonstrators Get Affidavits or the Arresting Officer Loses His/Her Job # NYC Jobs Open to Older Applicants of Any Age - Test: Ability to Perform # No Sidewalk Trash Tickets without Notice and 2 Color Photographs Spaced 24 Hours Apart # No NYC Subsidies to Buy or Retain Jobs in NYC # Permits Smoking in Designated Areas (up to 25% of Customer Space) in NYC Bars, Restaurants # Board of Elections to Create Email List of Voters for Use only by BOE and Election Candidates # NYC Police Precincts Will Receive Computer Donations and Give to Local Children Living in Computerless Homes # Department of Consumer Affairs to Accept Junk-Fax and Pop-Up Complaints and Bring Suit If Necessary # Prohibits Discriminatory Pricing - All Candidates and Parties to Receive the Same Price for Campaign Advertising # Drivers of Vehicles Permitted to Make Right Turn on Red Light (If Safe to Do So) # City Council of NYC Is to Create Single Email Address for Voters to Reach All 51 Council Members # NYC Businesses Report Potholes and Sidewalk Defects and Get Paid to Repair If NYC Fails to Repair# GPS and E-Z Pass Speeding Tickets Prohibited # 3 Times as Many Points before NYC May Revoke or Suspend a Taxicab Driver's License # Elect All Members of 59 Community Boards in NYC # Non-Public Eminent Domain by NYC Prohibited # No Licensing or Insurance as Condition to Exercise First Amendment Rights in NYC # Creation of New York City Attorney General to Enforce Constitutional Rights of NYC Citizens, Residents, Workers, Homeowners and Small Businesses at Public Expense # 150,000 New Parking Spaces by Reducing Hydrant No-Parking Zone to 3 Feet and Reducing Single-Car Parking-Meter Space to 16 Feet # Personally-Directed Proceedings Against 55 or Older NYC Resident Require Naming NYC Attorney General as Interested Person # 9/11 Testimony Required of 9/11 Witnesses and All Reprisals Are Illegal - with Action to Terminate Official's Employment if Reprisal # NYC Statute to Provide 100% Campaign Financing for Candidates before NYC Voters # Top 100 Retailers Required to Make Representations and Warranties to Open New Stores - Lawsuit Standing for Injured Competitors, Employees and Others # Continuous Auction of Unused NYC Real Estate # City Council of NYC Required to Disclose All Contacts to Influence Its Actions # NYC Website for Homeowners Subject to ARM Mortgage Foreclosures # NYC Website to Promote Rate and Fee Competition among NYC Banks and Credit Card Issuers # 100% Payout Slot Machines for NYC Retail Stores with Fees Supporting Local Senior, Pre-Natal and After-School Programs