Final answer:
The initiative, referendum, and recall are voting reforms from the Progressive Era intended to increase direct democracy by allowing citizens to propose laws, approve or reject legislation, and remove officials from office.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initiative, referendum, and recall are all voting reforms that are associated with the Progressive Era. These mechanisms were introduced as a means to restore power to the citizens and reduce the influence of special interests within the government. The initiative allows citizens to propose new legislation by gathering signatures to place an issue on the ballot. The referendum enables citizens to approve or reject laws passed by the legislature by voting directly on the legislation. Finally, the recall gives citizens the power to remove elected officials from office before the end of their term via a voting process.
Voting reforms like the referendum, initiative, and recall are evidence of the increased citizen participation in the electoral process during the Progressive Era, intended to provide a more direct connection between the government and the people they govern.