What authority do Illinois voters have regarding referenda?

Illinois voters have the authority to vote on specific proposed laws or amendments through referenda. This process allows citizens to directly participate in the legislative decision-making by either approving or rejecting measures that have been proposed by the government or through citizen initiative. Referenda serve as a vital tool for democratic engagement, enabling voters to express their preferences on significant issues that affect their communities and the state as a whole.

By voting on specific laws or amendments, voters are exercising their rights to influence public policy and governance. This mechanism can be used to bring about changes in the law that are often complex or controversial, reflecting the will of the people. Such direct decision-making is a hallmark of participatory democracy, ensuring that voters have a say in critical legislative matters.

The other choices, while related to civic engagement and decision-making, do not fall under the authority of referenda in the same way. Local government budgets or school district policies may be influenced by voters, but they typically involve different processes such as public hearings and local elections rather than direct voting on a referendum. Additionally, voting on mayoral candidates pertains to standard electoral processes rather than referenda.