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Referendum in North Rhine-Westphalia: Alarming approval rate!
In North Rhine-Westphalia, many citizens' initiatives fail due to high hurdles. The “More Democracy” association is calling for lower quorums for more participation.
Referendum in North Rhine-Westphalia: Alarming approval rate!
In North Rhine-Westphalia, referendums are experiencing a dramatic setback! Almost every second citizens' initiative is rejected as inadmissible because the approval quorum is not reached - a shocking report that causes democracy to falter. Achim Wölfel, the state manager of the “More Democracy in North Rhine-Westphalia” association, warns of an alarming trend: 40.3 percent of all referendums come to nothing! This number catapults NRW to a worrying last place in a nationwide comparison. A real wake-up call!
For 30 years, citizens in North Rhine-Westphalia have had the opportunity to have a say through citizens' initiatives. Despite this opportunity, it is impossible for many to make their voice heard, especially on issues such as school locations or transport infrastructure. Initiatives are piling up in Bonn, Essen and Bielefeld, but only a handful are successful. Wölfel criticizes the high hurdles: in communities with up to 50,000 inhabitants, 20 percent of those eligible to vote must agree - a “frustratingly high” gap that he wants to reduce to 10 percent. Is this the key to more direct democracy?
Direct democracy as a solution?
Wölfel sees a reform to strengthen direct democracy as a potential tool in the fight against political extremism. “Citizens' initiatives are an outlet for discontent,” he explains, emphasizing the importance of involving the population in order to promote a more harmonious political climate. In unprecedented votes such as the plan for a new indoor swimming pool in Hövelhof, where 75.4 percent of those eligible to vote cast their votes, it is clear how interested citizens are in decisions.
Another proposal from the “More Democracy” association emphasizes the introduction of digital signature collections and the sending of voting documents by post. Wölfel reports a possible increase in voter turnout by 10 percent in communities that already practice this. A step into the future or just another empty promise?