Which type of government structure allowed for direct voting on public issues in some colonies?

The correct answer is town meetings. In colonial New England, town meetings served as a form of direct democratic rule where community members could gather to discuss and vote on public issues, such as the budget, local laws, and community projects. This structure allowed for active participation among residents, reflecting a strong sense of community and local governance.

Town meetings were significant in promoting civic engagement and providing a platform for citizens to voice their opinions and influence decisions directly, rather than through elected representatives. This practice of direct voting at the local level laid the groundwork for democratic principles that would later be prominent in the development of the United States' political system.

Other forms of local governance, such as town councils or county governments, typically involved elected officials making decisions on behalf of the community, which did not provide the same level of direct participation. Similarly, commune assemblies were not a prevalent structure in the colonial period; thus, they do not fit the context of the question. The essence of town meetings embodies the early democratic practices that emerged in the colonies, leading to broader democratic ideals in American history.