Public opinion can be measured through a referendum. A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal or issue. It is a tool used to measure the views of the general public on important issues affecting them. Other methods such as surveys and polls can also be used to measure public opinion, but referendums provide a more direct and tangible way of measuring the opinion of the general public. Negotiation, strike action, and rumour are not methods of measuring public opinion, but rather ways in which the public expresses their opinions.