Voting in the Heart of Europe

What?

Voting in the Heart of Europe is a two‑fold project: It raises awareness among internationals in Frankfurt that they are eligible to vote in the local election of the Foreigner Advisory Council, enabling them to participate in democratic processes in Germany. Ultimately, the project aims to increase voter turnout in the Foreigner Advisory Council election. At a broader level, it evaluates how institutionalised forms of substitute political participation in Hesse function, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and deriving potential for structural improvement.

How?

We address the awareness gap through a targeted social media campaign across our channels. We develop an academic paper that systematically uncovers the functioning of these political bodies and identifies areas for improvement.

Why?

Many internationals living in Germany are unaware that they have a voice at the local level and can take part in democratic processes. We want to change that. At the same time, the political institutions themselves face tensions between formal inclusion and limited political influence. We want to make these structural challenges visible.