What factor primarily governs the outcome of a referendum?

A referendum serves as a direct vote in which an electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can result in the adoption of a new law or policy. The outcome of a referendum is primarily governed by the principle of majority rules, meaning that the option or proposal that receives more than half of the votes cast is considered to have been approved. This democratic process reflects the will of the majority, ensuring that the decision made is representative of the most significant portion of the electorate's preferences.

While negotiation between parties, consensus building strategies, and decisions made by an appointed arbitrator can play important roles in various decision-making processes, they are not the primary factors in the outcome of a referendum. Instead, those processes could be relevant to how a proposal is developed or presented to voters, but ultimately, it is the majority's choice that determines the result in a referendum setting.