Over 4.5 million residents of legal voting age in Germany have no right to vote in federal and communal elections. They do not have a German or EU passport and have been living and working here on the average for 16 years.
Since 1994 EU-nationals of legal voting age have the right to vote or run as candidate at local elections in all EU-member states, but in many states non-EU nationals - 21,8 million citizens in EU27 - still have no voting rights. We want to change this.
The right to participate in elections is a basic principle of every democratic state. Foreign citizen participation in elections promotes integration and expresses social and political equality. This is already common practice in 14 of 27 EU countries. As well in other European countries like Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom.
Anyone who is affected by political decisions should be involved in the decision-making process through voting rights. That’s how democracy works.
Our campaign
We are starting a campaign for political participation and equal voting rights in conjunction with the 2019 EU-elections and local elections in European states.
Through symbolic elections and other events, we raise awareness about voting rights.
We aim to motivate citizens with migration backgrounds to make use of their voting rights and invite residents who are not legally allowed to vote to cast a symbolic ballot in one of our polling stations. There, we will use the same election procedure as the official election. After the election, the ballots will be officially presented to our elected representatives.
Migrant councils and organizations in Europe have formed coalitions and networks, like the Netzwerk “wir wählen” in Germany or the collective “J’y suis, j’y vote” in France. Stop by and join us!
Act now and support the campaign
Vote symbolically for more participation
Take a stand and cast your ballot in our symbolic election or find out more at our information booths and events regarding voting rights.
Find events
Download manual
International Day of Voting Rights forAll
April 26 is the International Day of Voting Rights for All Residents. Check out the program and join in.
April 26 - program 2023 // online
April 26 - program 2024 // Paris
Support us in your area
Support one of our partners in your area, hang up posters, or take part in an election event. Or simply contact a partner in your area.
Find community partner
Cities initiative & campaign in your area
If there is no partner in your area, you can get active yourself. Bring people together, organize events or put on symbolic elections in order to raise awareness. We can refer you to contact partners and send you material. Just contact us.
cities initiative - mayors
english-français-italiano-deutsch
cities initiaitve - city councils
english-français-italiano-deutsch
Contact
Events and polling stations in Europe
active initiative
26.04.25 // online
17 - 18.30 h CET
International Day of Voting Rights for All
online event - live reports, input, exchange
online event - live reports, input, exchange
online event please register
contact@votingrightsforall.netinsta
26.04.25 // Paris
14 - 18 h
International Day of Voting Rights for All
votation citoyenne (symbolic election)
votation citoyenne (symbolic election)
Place de la République / more information
27.04. // Paris
9 - 16.30 h
International Day of Voting Rights for All
convention of voting rights initiatives
convention of voting rights initiatives
Palais du Luxembourg / registration necessary
26.04. // Brussels
10 - 18 h
International Day of Voting Rights for All
symbolic vote
symbolic vote
Place de la petit Suisse + online
contact@votingrightsforall.netlink
26.04. // Brussels
10 - 18 h
International Day of Voting Rights for All
symbolic vote
symbolic vote
Esplanade of the European Parliament + online
contact@votingrightsforall.netlink
26.04. // Paris
14 - 18 h
International Day of Voting Rights for All
historic event & symbolic election
historic event & symbolic election
Place de la République / more information
03.04. - 8 pm
european network meeting - VRAR
online - event / please contact
contact@votingrightsforall.netLink
26.04. - 7 pm
International Day of Voting Rights for All
online - event / please register by mail
contact@votingrightsforall.netlink
26.04. - 7 pm
International Day of Voting Rights for All
online - event / please register
contact@votingrightsforall.netLink
26.04. - 6 pm
european day of voting rights for all
online - event / please contact
vrar@we-vote.euLink
active initiative in this country
active initiative in this country
active initiative in this country
2024 - Genève
regional referendum on voting rights for all
all can vote, but not run as candidates
all can vote, but not run as candidates
Canton Genève
2024 - Basel
regional referendum on voting rights for all
residents after 5 years in Basel
active initiative in this country
26.05.21, 6.30 pm
collectif j'y suis, j'y vote
network meeting
network meeting
all interested initiatives
26.04.21, 7.30 pm
network meeting
direct after european event 6-7.30 pm
direct after european event 6-7.30 pm
all interested initiatives
collectif j'y suis, j'y votelink
04 - 15.03.2020
vote symbolique e votation citoyenne
Paris, Amiens, Saint Denis, Bagnolet, Créteil, Gennevilliers, Villetaneuse, Montreuil
active initiative in this country
September 2021
federal campaign & symbolic elections at federal election
Weimar, Jena, Erfurt, Halle, Magdeburg, Aachen, Trier, Köln, Hannover, Osnabrück, Berlin, Hamburg, Aalen, Mannheim, Freiburg + online
September 2017
federal campaign & symbolic elections
at federal election
at federal election
Weimar, Jena, Erfurt, Halle, Magdeburg, Dessau-Roßlau, Gießen, Bad Vilbel, Dietzenbach, Wetzlar, Bernau, Eberswalde, Nürnberg, Mannheim, Koblenz, Bamberg, Kempten, Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, Freiburg, Berlin
active initiative in this country
19.05.22
discussione - cittadinanza e partecipazione
ius solis, ius scholae e diritto di voto
ius solis, ius scholae e diritto di voto
Festa dei popoli
CGIL, Barilink
active initiative in this country
News
Initiatives in Europe
14 out of 27 EU-member states already practice voting rights for some or all „Third-Country-Nationals“.
In other EU- as non-EU-countries these initiatives in France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany are active and formed 2020 the network Voting Rights for ALL Residents – VRAR:
the campaign “I live here, I vote here” is inspired by the network “we vote” in Germany,
supported by Citizens for Europe and realized by Freiburger Wahlkreis 100%.
