Who can vote in a referendum depends on the country and the specific rules of the referendum, but generally, the following criteria apply:
United Kingdom
- Eligibility varies by the type of referendum (national, regional, or local).
- Voters must be registered and usually must meet age, nationality, and residency requirements.
- For national referendums, people across the whole UK who are registered to vote can participate.
- For regional or local referendums, only those living in the relevant area and registered to vote there can participate.
- Specific rules on eligibility are set for each referendum and can differ
Ireland
- Must be an Irish citizen.
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day of the vote.
- Must be resident in Ireland.
- Must be registered on the Register of Electors.
- British and EU citizens living in Ireland may have voting rights in certain elections but generally not in referendums unless specified.
- Registration is essential to be able to vote
United States
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must meet state residency requirements.
- Must be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.
- Must be registered to vote by the state's deadline.
- Some states allow non-citizens to vote in local elections only, but generally, non-citizens cannot vote in referendums.
- Restrictions may apply for people with felony convictions or certain mental disabilities, varying by state
New Zealand
- Must be enrolled to vote.
- Any enrolled voter can vote in a referendum.
- Referendums can be citizen-initiated or government-initiated.
- The right to vote in referendums is tied to voter enrollment, which requires citizenship and residency
Summary
In general, to vote in a referendum, you must:
- Be a citizen of the country or meet specific nationality criteria.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be registered to vote in the relevant electoral register.
- Reside in the area covered by the referendum if it is regional or local.
Each referendum may have specific rules, so checking local electoral authority guidance is recommended.