People2Power

Postal voting is a big issue in the ongoing American elections and referendums. In Switzerland, the most recent big voting day offered interesting insights into the practice of it.

How the world’s most frequent voters handle postal ballots Switzerland, where citizens vote four times a year, has a longstanding tradition of mailing its ballots. How did that play out during a pandemic?

As we watch the United Kingdom’s political turmoil become messier by the day, modern direct democracy rather than Brexit-style plebiscites looks more and more attractive and rational. While some societies are learning from doing, others are allowing themselves to burn. Britain is now learning the hard way by (until now) failing to involve its voters in the follow-up decision-making process of the historic June 23, 2016 vote. Bruno Kaufmann reports.

The Swiss option: Not too late for a credible poll of the people with ‘happy losers’ | Global Geneva LEADING EDGEThe Swiss option: Not too late for a credible poll of the people with ‘happy losers’ As we watch the United Kingdom’s political turmoil become messier by the day, direct democracy rather than Brexit-style plebiscites looks even more attractive and rational. Bruno Kaufmann, a Swiss-...

This weekend many people around the world are called to the ballot stations to decide on issues, including in Taiwan.

台灣的民主制度裡流淌著瑞士基因 本週六(11月24日)，台灣選民將首次對10多項議題進行全民公投。可見，瑞士的直接民主制度跨越了半個地球，到達了亞洲。 阅读本文简体字版本请点击此处 最後幾米最累人，腿像鉛一樣沉，呼吸急促。最後，立法院尤美女委員.....

Towards the first true Brexit referendum! Another popular vote on the Brexit agreement would not be a “second referendum” – as the first vote was an advisory plebiscite. And it’s necessary: despite of its structural and legal weaknesses, the 2016 plebiscite cannot be reversed by MPs alone.
Parliament is most welcome to deliberate and debate how to implement Brexit. Ultimately, however, it’s time to again make the British people decision makers: by holding a genuine, legally-binding referendum.

Let the British people decide the outcome of Brexit London and the EU have finally agreed draft terms for their divorce. To settle this messy period of British politics there is only one real option.

Constitutions are in the heart of any modern democracy. Now, three former Danish colonies in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland want to set a new standard in participatory constitution making. Our report.

An Arctic approach to constitutional drafting The North Atlantic region is focused on participatory constitution making, with Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland all in the process.

The people of Hawai'i are about to vote on a new constitutional convention this november. Sixty years after gaining statehood, the Pacific archipelago gets a great opportunity to make it's democracy more democratic. And there is much to build upon. Our report from Honolulu.

Where the American dream remains democratic ​​​​​​​ The 1.5 million people of Hawaii have a community-based vision of democracy with open government and citizen participation.