The local referendum in Poland is the only instrument that allows residents to direct- ly and ultimately decide on matters important for a given local community. On the one hand, this institution is strengthened by the right to referendum initiative of a binding nature that is granted to residents, but on the other, it is weakened by a number of bar- riers related to, among others, the requirement of high voter turnout determining the binding referendum result. For years changes in this area have been proposed by scien- tists, social organizations, as well as entities who have the right of legislative initiative. The last legislative proposal in this regard submitted to the Sejm in 2018 proposed, among others, granting the right of referendum initiative to the executive bodies of local gov- ernment units, restoring the possibility of holding the local referendum on the same day as the nationwide referendum or the election of the President of the Republic, elections to the Sejm, the Senate or the European Parliament. The most important proposal, how- ever, concerned the abolition of the requirement of minimum turnout conditioning the binding nature of the local referendum.