A referendum is a special vote where people decide a question, not a person. You are not choosing a president. You are saying yes or no (or picking among a few options) about a law or a big public issue — whether to change a rule, join a group of countries, or keep an old system.

referendumA referendum is a special vote 是一種特別的投票where people decide a question, not a person 人們決定的是一個議題，不是一個人。你You 不是在選總統are not choosing a president。你You are saying yes or no (or picking among a few options) 是在對一個議題說是或否（或在幾個選項裡選一個） about a law or a big public issue 關於一項法律或重大公共議題——whether to change a rule, join a group of countries, or keep an old system 像是否要修改一項規定、加入一個國家聯盟，或維持舊制度。

The question is set in advance; then voters answer it. After the count, that answer is meant to settle the matter, though people sometimes still argue about what the result “really” meant.

這個問題The question 是事先訂好的is set in advance；接著then 由選民回答voters answer it。計票之後After the count，這個答案that answer 原則上就此定案is meant to settle the matter，雖然though 人們people 有時還是會爭論結果「真正」代表什麼sometimes still argue about what the result "really" meant。

Some countries use referendums often; others almost never.

有些國家Some countries 常常舉辦referendumuse referendums often；而其他國家others 幾乎從不almost never。

The plural is referendums, or, in a more Latin style, referenda. Though actually, this is not the same as an election: an election picks people to hold a job; a referendum picks an answer to a subject.

複數The plural 是referendumsis referendums，或者or, 用比較拉丁式的說法in a more Latin style, 是referendareferenda。不過其實Though actually，這this 跟election不一樣is not the same as an election：electionan election 選的是要擔任職位的人picks people to hold a job；而referendumbut a referendum 選的是對一個議題的答案picks an answer to a subject。