Referendums, where voters are asked to vote on a proposal that government has put forward in a set of questions, are common globally. There is a push by various quarters for a clause by clause vote on the recommendations in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020, in the BBI drive. In the recent US election, ballot papers had referendum questions for the respective counties which sought to vote on issues affecting them. Switzerland conducts many referendums in a year – about four – where citizens vote on around 15 proposals and cast ballot on issues affecting individual cantons. Three weeks ago, Portland – a city in Oregon, United States – voted on six referendum questions, among them decriminalising hard drugs.

Source: The Star November 27, 2020 14:27 UTC