variants
or referendums
as in votes
an event in which the electorate votes for or against a law that deals with a specific issue
They are having a referendum so the public can decide the controversial issue.
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Recent Examples of referenda
The first is to keep the budget as originally developed and approved which would allow for market rate corrections to some staff salaries, proactive public works maintenance projects, and additional flexibility for 2027 to avoid cutting city services or holding referendums.
—
Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Cities that have called withdrawal elections have until mid-March to call off the May referendums.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
In response, states such as Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Wyoming enacted legislation that would expressly prohibit foreign funds from being spent on domestic ballot referendums.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Joel Hand, a lobbyist for the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, said that generally small rural school districts have the hardest time passing referendums, when taxpayers are strained the most, and suburban school districts have the greatest success.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025
Those referendums have been widely criticized as sham votes by the international community.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Every four years since then, people write pieces just like this one about how midterms are not the place for bold visions for governance but rather referendums on the party in power.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Voters approved similar referendums in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
Voters in Hialeah, Homestead, Miami, Miami Beach and Surfside all had candidates and referendums on the ballot.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Cities that have called withdrawal elections have until mid-March to call off the May referendums.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
In response, states such as Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Wyoming enacted legislation that would expressly prohibit foreign funds from being spent on domestic ballot referendums.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Joel Hand, a lobbyist for the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, said that generally small rural school districts have the hardest time passing referendums, when taxpayers are strained the most, and suburban school districts have the greatest success.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025
Those referendums have been widely criticized as sham votes by the international community.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Every four years since then, people write pieces just like this one about how midterms are not the place for bold visions for governance but rather referendums on the party in power.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Voters approved similar referendums in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
Voters in Hialeah, Homestead, Miami, Miami Beach and Surfside all had candidates and referendums on the ballot.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referenda
Noun
-
If Tillis joins with all Democrats, then the Senate Banking Committee wouldn’t be able to advance a Powell successor to the floor, as 60 votes are required to finish confirming the nominee under the current Senate rules.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
His 2,229,811 votes were more than 137,000 ahead of Eastern Conference leader Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has led the league in All-Star fan voting for the last two seasons.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The change could prove a stumbling block for people who need to ensure that mail such as bill payments, taxes or voting ballots are postmarked by specific dates.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
That transformation has shown up on ballots.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referenda.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referenda. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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