Whenever the population is called upon to partake

in the democratic process on an Election Sunday

in Freiburg for city council or mayoral elections, or

referendums, the votes of 13,500 Freiburg

citizens are missing.

Even though over 8,500 EU nationals have been

granted equal rights to vote in communal elections

since 1998, non-EU nationals still have no voting

rights whatsoever.

In Freiburg, a political two-thirds majority exists for

the introduction of voting rights in local elections

for all citizens, independent of birthplace or

passport.

Freiburg Voting District 100% jumps ahead in time

and complements the official voting district on

Election Sunday with symbolic polling stations for

the otherwise ineligible voters. Here the same

electoral system and lists apply just as in the official

election: A demonstration of democratic

participation at the ballot box.

The right to vote is a fundamental principle of a

democratic state. The participation of foreign

citizens in elections promotes integration and

expresses social and political equality. This is

already common practice in 16 of 27 EU countries.

The time has come for the introduction of

communal voting rights for all foreign citizens

in Germany.

Please support Freiburg Voting District 100%.

Start up 100% Voting Districts in your own

communities!

we vote biramo

wir wählen!

呼吁参加呼吁参加呼吁参加呼吁参加选选选选

¡ v o t e m o s !

gilovere hilbijarê

seçim ilanı

Cven virCevT!Cven virCevT!Cven virCevT!Cven virCevT! allons voter!

ne votojmë! دعوة ل�نتخابات

nós votamos! мы выбираем!

Democracy & Participation contact & information: www.wahlkreis100.de

Voting right in practice Mayoral election 2010

At the last local elections in 2009, the unique

campaign drive of Freiburg Voting District 100 %

made it possible for approximately 800 people to

cast ballots in 20 polling stations in Freiburg.

Foreign residents without voting rights could

choose their symbolic city council parallel to the

official communal election while German and EU

nationals were able to cast a solidarity-vote.

With election criteria, open discussions,

information stands, and active media work,

Freiburg Voting District 100% jumped into the

election campaign. With the support of many

migrant-organisations in Freiburg, it made election

day a festival of participation.

One small side-effect: the number of newly elected

city council members with migration backgrounds

doubled.

45 years after the great commemoration in Köln-

Deutz train station, the one-millionth guest

worker of Germany, Armando Rodrigues stands

with his motor-scooter on track one at Freiburg-

Wiehre station.

Democratic participation on an equal basis has

been a demand of the “guest-worker” generation

since the 1960’s. While equal rights had been won

at the workplace since 1972 (works council

elections), full political-societal equality has been

long overdue.

Freiburg Voting District 100% is actively involved in

projects concerning the history of migration and

supports this historical tradition of true

participation.

The story of Armando Rodrigues, his motor-scooter

and his re-appearance in Freiburg can be seen in an

interview at www.wahlkreis100.de.

Armando Rodrigues at the Freiburg-Wiehre station

In March 2008, 5 of 6 city council factions in

Freiburg signaled their support for democracy and

integration. “Equal participation is the

prerequisite for true identification” was

proclaimed in the resolution calling for the

introduction of communal voting rights for non-EU

nationals with 5-year residency in Germany.

Granted, the city council cannot implement any

changes in communal electoral laws, but it can take

a political stand on behalf of the city’s

unrepresented population.

If a political majority were reached at the federal

level as high as that in Freiburg, a two-thirds

majority for a constitutional amendment

would be achieved. This amendment is necessary,

as was the case for the introduction of voting rights

for EU citizens, for getting communal voting rights

for everyone.

Street-campaign: every poster counts Polling station, Beauty & Food-Shop in Freiburg