There are set significant barriers in the Czech Republic, which hinder the positive consistent effect of direct democracy institutions on both the quality of political competition and on the efficiency of economic policy from the perspective of the median voter's preferences. The paper deals with one of the most effectual barriers, which is a minimal voter turnout requirement. Based on the empirical evidence in the Czech Republic the paper shows, that there are not significant differences between the voter turnout by local referenda and the voter turnout by municipal elections. Moreover, a statistically significant dependence of the voter turnover rate on the municipality size was identified for both the local referenda and municipal elections. Thus the empirical evidence testifies against the general minimal voter turnout requirement. The paper outlines with respect to the empirical evidence an alternative way of gradual introduction of direct participation rights on the municipal level in the Czech Republic.