A mining referendum is a direct and universal vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a mining proposal. Mining referendums have been held in Tambo Grande, Peru in 2002,[1]Esquel, Argentina in 2003,[1][2] and Cuenca, Ecuador in 2021.[3][4][5] In each of the three cases the local community rejected the establishment of new mines in their territory.[1][3]
In 2022 activists in Quito, Ecuador gathered 380,000 signatures to petition a mining referendum to block a mining project in the forests of Chocó Andino.[6]
^Urdinez, María Victoria (2007). Mecanismos de participación y control ciudadano: 'El plebiscito en Esquel. IV Jornadas de Jóvenes Investigadores. Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires