The UK held a referendum in May 2011 to change its electoral system. The research in this symposium looks at how public opinion, simultaneous elections, and media coverage influenced the referendum. The articles explore what factors influenced people's views, how the referendum interacted with other elections happening at the same time, and how the media covered the referendum. The findings shed light on the dynamics of a referendum campaign and provide insights into how these different factors can impact the outcome of such a vote.