Rostock District Council: Goodbye voting cards – electronic voting is coming!

Rostock District Council: Goodbye voting cards – electronic voting is coming!

Fresh changes are imminent in the political landscape in the Rostock district. The district council has decided that there will soon be no more voting cards. Instead, voting will be recorded electronically in the future. This should not only increase transparency, but also increase the efficiency of voting. The decision, which was passed with a large majority on Wednesday evening, is based on a proposal from the AfD, which the administration positively supported. This will require investments of around 20,000 euros, which represents a significant saving compared to the initially estimated 32,000 euros, including at the request of the Greens, who are calling for a transportable system for the two district council locations in Bad Doberan and Güstrow.

With electronic voting, roll-call and secret votes will now take place more quickly. This is particularly advantageous when voting results are close, as there is no need for recounting and the meetings are therefore shorter overall. These changes are part of a larger trend towards digitalization and citizen participation in Germany. Current developments and projects show that digital channels are becoming increasingly important for actively involving citizens in political processes.

Live streaming for greater citizen proximity

In a further step to promote citizen participation, the district council meeting on June 29th will be broadcast via live stream for the first time. This allows residents to follow in real time how district council members discuss and vote on current issues. District Administrator Sebastian Constien emphasizes the importance of digital channels for citizen participation and sees this live stream as an opportunity for people who cannot take part in the meetings due to mobility restrictions or time constraints. The test project for the live broadcast is initially designed for six district council meetings to check how well this new offer is accepted. This goes hand in hand with the decision to introduce digital voting, which was made on June 16, 2021.

Such a commitment to digital participation is not an isolated case in Germany. The trend of actively involving citizens in political decisions has been observed since the turn of the millennium. More and more municipalities are offering platforms for participatory budgeting, which promotes citizen participation in political processes. The use of digital means to support democracy, such as e-democracy, e-government and e-participation, shows that the opportunities for political participation are continually expanding.

Transparency through digitalization

This effort to facilitate participation is also supported by the discussion around transparent data and open governance. However, a study shows that there is still a digital divide in Germany that influences access to these offers. While 98.7% of households have at least an internet connection of 1 Mbit/s, rural areas in particular are often less well served. So it remains a challenge to bridge these differences and give all citizens equal access to digital formats.

The recent commitment of the district council in the Rostock district is a step in the right direction, which shows that digital politics in Germany is in the starting blocks. The combination of electronic voting and digital broadcasts will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening citizen proximity and transparency. Step by step, political events are becoming more tangible and accessible for all citizens - a good step into the future!

For more information about the changes in the district council, you can see the details at NDR and Rostock district read up. For more in-depth information on digital politics, the Federal Agency for Civic Education exciting insights.