Technology
The Use of Referendums and Initiatives in Direct Democracy
Quick fact
While most democracies are representative, over 100 countries hold national referendums, and Switzerland uses them so often that citizens vote about four times a year on everything from traffic laws to foreign policy.
Why this is interesting
Imagine being able to vote on a law directly, without a politician's approval. Some places let citizens do exactly that—but the rules for how it works are trickier than you might think.