What is the difference between a ballot initiative and a referendum in Georgia? Between 1911-1913, the Georgia legislature enacted laws granting initiative, referendum, and recall rights to the residents of four cities, including Atlanta (the Initiative & Referendum movement was a force in Georgia politics).
A "ballot initiative" is when citizens get signatures and make the decision to put it on the ballot to be voted on (citizens draft a proposed law). And a "referendum" is a decision for the general assembly to put a bill on the ballot (the legislature refers a piece of legislation to the people to either approve or reject it by vote). These terms refer to processes that allow citizens to vote directly on particular pieces of legislation.
