US Trends

who can vote in a referendum

In most democracies, who can vote in a referendum is decided by that country’s election laws, but the pattern is usually similar: it’s the same people who can vote in major national elections.

Core idea: who can vote in a referendum?

In general, you can vote in a referendum if:

  • You are old enough to vote under that country’s law (often 18+).
  • You have the required citizenship or nationality status.
  • You live in the relevant area (country, region, or local council) covered by the referendum.
  • You are correctly registered on the electoral roll or voters’ register.
  • You are not legally disqualified from voting (for example, in some countries because of certain criminal sentences or specific legal restrictions).

A referendum is basically a one‑issue vote; the “who can vote” rules are normally the same as for normal elections, just limited to the area the referendum covers.

National, regional, and local referendums

Different levels of referendum can have slightly different voter rules:

  • National referendums
    • Usually open to all eligible voters across the whole country.
    • Example: In Ireland, you can vote in a referendum if you are an Irish citizen, at least 18, and on the Register of Electors.
  • Regional referendums
    • Only people living (and registered) in that region can vote.
    • Example: A vote limited to one part of a country, like a specific state or devolved nation, uses that area’s electoral register.
  • Local referendums
    • Run by local councils or authorities.
    • Only people on the local electoral roll in that area can vote.

Typical legal requirements (with real examples)

Here’s how some official bodies describe eligibility:

  • United Kingdom (general rule for referendums)
    • Eligibility depends on age, nationality, where you live, and whether you’re registered.
* Not everyone can vote in every referendum, because Parliament can set specific rules for each vote.
  • Ireland
    • You must:
      • Be an Irish citizen.
      • Be at least 18 years old.
      • Have your name on the Register of Electors.
  • Australia (constitutional referendums)
    • Voting is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens aged 18 or older who are on the federal electoral roll.

Across these examples, the pattern is the same: age + citizenship + registration + residence in the right area.

Who cannot vote?

Common groups who usually cannot vote in a referendum include:

  • People under the voting age (often under 18).
  • Non‑citizens (unless a particular referendum law makes an exception).
  • People not registered on the electoral roll by the deadline.
  • People living outside the area the referendum covers.
  • People legally disqualified from voting under that country’s election law.

For example, Irish citizens living abroad generally cannot vote in referendums unless they are diplomats (and even then, they vote by post under special rules).

Quick example to make it concrete

Imagine a national constitutional referendum in Country X :

  • Maria is 20, a citizen of Country X, lives there, and is on the electoral register → she can vote.
  • Ali is 25, lives in Country X, but is not a citizen and the law only allows citizens to vote → he cannot vote.
  • Liam is 30, a citizen, but moved abroad and is not on any qualifying overseas register → he usually cannot vote unless special provisions exist.
  • Sara is 17, a citizen and registered but under the legal voting age of 18 → she cannot vote.

Why the rules can differ between referendums

Many countries allow the rules for each referendum to be set in the law that authorizes that specific vote. That means:

  • Parliament or the legislature can define exactly who is entitled to vote.
  • There can be small differences between one referendum and another, even in the same country.

Because of this, if you want to know who can vote in a particular referendum (for example, a specific 2026 or 2027 vote), you should always check that country’s official electoral authority or government website for the exact eligibility rules.

TL;DR:
In almost all cases, you can vote in a referendum if you are the normal kind of eligible voter for that area’s elections: the right age, the right citizenship, living in the right place, and correctly registered on the electoral roll. Exact details vary by country and by referendum law, so the safest step is always to check the official election authority’s guidance for that specific vote.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.