who can vote in a referendum

5 hours ago 3
Nature

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.