estaban ratificando
-they/you were ratifying
Imperfecto progresivo para el sujeto ellos/ellas/ustedes del verbo ratificar.

ratificar

Por ello, resulta tan equivocado decir que los votantes estaban ratificando una decisión adoptada previamente como sugerir que estaban ejerciendo su derecho a decidir.
And so it would be as much a misuse of words to say that the voters were ratifying the deciders' decision as to suggest that they were deciding the matter for themselves.
Palabra del día
el ponche de huevo