When the preparations for the local and regional elections on 16. November started and posters were put up on all the lanterns and trees in Aarhus, one thing was surprising: how many young faces were depicted on them.
Young candidates on posters in the streets of Aarhus
Unlike in Germany, for example, it seems to be quite common for young people to run for local politics – and also to be supported by their party. For example, 26-year-old candidate Laura Bryhl is running as the top candidate for Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne, as is 20-year-old Katrine Skov-Hansen for Alternativet. Other parties are also putting young names at the top of their lists. In total, 37 of the 200 candidates are under or 30 years old.
We wanted to know what motivates young people to enter politics and whether they face any obstacles because of their age:
Whether the young candidates’ commitment to each other will be reflected in the election results will become clear after the votes have been counted. In the previous local and regional councils of 2017, 5.46% and 5.65% respectively were young people under 30.
‘As people come into the polling stations, Danes reflect in the importance of local government and democracy’
By Gabrielle Bunton on November 16, 2021 at 11:42 p.m.
(Target Audience is anyone from all across the world)
(Photo Credit to Gabrielle Bunton: The sign outside of Vejlby-Risskov Hallen)
Vejlby-Risskov Hallen in Aarhus, Denmark has had many great moments. From having Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd grace the stage, it now has also become a home to cast your vote.
As people make their way through the parking lot, they are met with the giant smiling faces of candidates on posters that can be seen all around the city. They clutch their ballots in their hand as an aura of calmness surrounds the scene. People calmly make their way into a room in the giant arena making a line. While some take a look at the big posters with the names of all candidates on the walls, others continue to get in line to put their ballots in the box.
For some it’s just a casual election day but for Thomas Sudergaard, student at Aarhus University, being there to vote was more than just electing people but to help his family. “Some people in my family have had medical issues in the past. I have seen how health care works in other countries, so I’m grateful to live here and be able to vote for people who can help it,” said Sudergaard.
(Photo Credits to Gabrielle Bunton: People wait inside the Vejlby-Risskov Hallen in Aarhus, Denmark to cast the ballots for Election Day on November 16, 2021)
November 16 marks Election Day for Denmark for their local governments. Danes
come into various polling stations across their five regions and 98 municipalities to vote for local and regional councils. These elections must be held every four years on the third Tuesday of November according to the Local and Regionals Election Act.
The Danish government has a parliamentary democracy or Folketing with multiple parties, ministers, a queen and more. Democracy is a big thing in Denmark with the country being built on one of the world oldest constitutions, the Danish Constitution of 1849, which is over 170 years old, according to the official website of Denmark.
“I think we have a good democracy and it shows. Danish culture is very stress free because of how we are set up as a country. We believe in our democracy. We believe in our democracy,” said Sudergaard.
The people take advantage of some of the fundamental principles in democracy with voting. According to Election Guide, Denmark has a average voting turnout of 79.72% with 4,219,537 registered voters. Voters must be 18 years or older, a residence in one of regions or municipalities, a citizen of a EU member state, citizen of Iceland or Norway, a citizen of a non-EU member state (must have resided in Denmark for a period of four years), according to the Danish Parliament website.
People can vote from a multitude of parties with even more members. This year 19 parties with over 180+ candidates among the various parties. A list can be found here (in Danish).
As an foreigner here, I noticed that when it comes to voting, not much propaganda was made to encourage people to vote. For example, in America you will see commercials, clothes, posts on social media and much more to influence people to vote. In Denmark people seem more willing to vote rather than in America where it seems like a life or death situation. It was way more relaxed here.
I also noticed that Denmark has strong local governments that many people trust. In America, now more than ever, people do not have must trust in our government. Denmark is among the countries with the lowest level perceived corruption in the public sector, while in America public trust in government remains low. Only about one-quarter of Americans say they can trust the government in Washington to do what is right “just about always” (2%) or “most of the time” (22%), according to Pew Research.
(Photo Credit to Gabrielle Bunton: A list of all candidates and parties up for the local and regional election)
For Danish citizens, election day is pretty casual compared to others. For example, America has had a lot of tension among political parties that has made its way into the people. The country has been in the forefront of many bold displays that people have made against the government such as the Capital Riots.
Voter, Nana Skaidantcis, says it is always a breeze to vote. “It’s pretty easy. You just go in and put your ballot in the box. There are really no problems when voting here to be honest,” said Skaidantcis.
As stated by the City of Aarhus, when the elections are closed and final, the elected local and regional council will take office on January 1st of the following election year. The previous members will resign on December 31st in the election year.
The regional councils or Regionsrådet focus on healthcare (hospitals etc.). psychiatry, social services, and regional development for all five regions with each council having 41 members. Local councils focus more on the community with sports, infrastructure, housing, childcare, schools, culture and mainly the everyday life for people within the municipality.
Another Josephine Lusty, says that voting in these local elections helps everyone in the community. “People are able to vote for whoever they want without any pressure. People are able to exercise their right in democracy which is very important,” said Lusty.
Even though these elections happen every four years, people can practice democracy in their everyday lives like political organizations, attending board council board meetings, joining sports organizations and more.
“To me democracy is more than just voting for people. We are doing things that will affect ourselves, everyone around us and everything that we deal with in our country. Voting is a privilege that should be taken seriously by everyone,” said Lusty.
Denmark’s strategy to reduce the abstention of voters in municipal elections
Itsaso Jauregui and Isla Storie
Polling station at Aarhus City Hall. Photo taken by Isla Storie
In order to vote in Denmark’s local elections citizens have to meet a set of rules: to be 18 or older, to be from an EU member state or to have resided in Denmark for at least four years before said elections. Even after fulfilling those requirements, it’s the individual’s choice whether to exercise the right to vote or not, having a direct impact on the results of the elections. However, Aarhus doesn’t seem to suffer too much from abstaining voters. In fact, in the municipal elections that took place in November 2017, 70.47% of voters showed up to cast their votes. Jesper Nielsen, a voter who never misses the opportunity, stated after leaving the Aarhus City Hall polling station: “Voting is part of our culture, it’s a right and something you have to do to use your voice”.
The importance of going to vote is present in Aarhus, judging by the queues formed in the street: people are eager to vote. Roger Buch, doctor of political science and research lecturer in social studies, states: “This is something we see in international surveys where Denmark compared to other countries has something of a world record on this norm of the importance of voting. It is kind of a social duty, a democratic duty to vote in local elections in Denmark”. However, special emphasis has been placed on the participation of young people in this democratic activity, with various campaigns organised in the past in order to encourage them.
Three of these campaigns were implemented during the 2013 municipal election period, and all had a positive impact on turnout for a group of young people aged between 18 and 29. The Danish Parliament sent copies of the Danish Constitution, alongside a cartoon promoting voting, to 18-year-olds, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Interior sent letters of argument in favour of voting to first time voters aged 18 to 21. However, the most effective method came from the Danish Youth Council, which sent texts containing the message “Democracy needs you” and the election date to 22-29-year-olds, which increased the average turnout by 1.8% compared to a control group who did not receive the texts. As a result, text messages were sent out to voters of all ages in many local and regional councils across the country in advance of the 2017 municipal elections, where the average national turnout for those aged 18 to 29 was 70.8%.
Voters queue outside the Vejlby-Risskov Hallen polling station in Aarhus. Photo taken by Isla Storie
It is important to bear in mind that not all young people abstain from voting because they do not want to; some may prefer more time and/or life experience to make an informed decision. Professor Buch said: “When you’re young, you’re still figuring out who you are and what your values are”. In order to try to reduce these doubts that are created among young people in Denmark, an attempt has been made to explain the importance of elections to the youngest citizens. A kindergarten class was encouraged to create their own manifestos, with pledges requesting more trips to amusement parks and sweets for all children. One voter, Amalie Dammeyer, a kindergarten teacher, said: “We teach the kids in school how the elections work so they are aware of them from a very young age”.
Outside the classrooms the posters of the different representatives of the political parties flood the streets and, according to Professor Buch, the elections have also taken up a big space in the news: “National media in Denmark tends to give less attention to local politics compared to national politics. But I will underline that this is the election that has had the most intense coverage on the national media and I think that this is very positive”.
The results of the elections will reflect the efficiency of the methods that have been carried out to try to get a higher voter turnout, but as Morten Nystrup, Editor-in-Chief of Jyllands-Posten’s local newspaper division, stated: “One vote can mean a lot”.
My target audience is students at my home university and other international students here in Denmark. It is meant to be shared as Instagram Stories on the university Instagram
The 2021 Danish local elections are unique in the way that precautions to prevent the spread of COVID are frequent with cases rising.
By Jamie Szmitz
A sign outside of polling station at Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus. Sign translates to “Entrance to polling station.” Photographer: Jamie Szmitz
As Danish residents head to their local polling station, positive cases of COVID are also on the rise meaning more restrictions. Just four days before the municipal and regional elections, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reintroduced the coronapas. Although the coronapas was not needed in the polling stations; masks, social distancing and hand wash was still observed in polling stations all over the country.
The polling stations were open from 8:00 until 20:00 to all Danish residents, as well as EU/Norway/Iceland internationals and those who have lived in Denmark for over four years. It is projected that 1 in 11 of the electorate are foreign residents.
As well as precautions for those who would enter the buildings, there are also safety measures for vulnerable residents and those who are actually infected with COVID. Every polling station has an option for outdoor voting, there they do not have to enter a confined area and can vote in a heavily ventilated area at a safe distance from others.
For those who are actually infected, they can vote by contacting a volunteer at the station. They will safely visit their car and give them a ballot paper, which the volunteer will add to the box on their behalf.
Workers of the municipality who are working at the polling station in Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus. Photographer: Jamie Szmitz
The employee, seen on the right, told me that “the main purpose is to help people vote in the safest way possible. Some voters may be worried about being exposed to the virus and that is why we are here.”
Despite the measures, it is seen as democratic to allow residents without a coronapas to still be able to vote. There have been efforts made by the Kommunes of regions to make sure democracy has been able to survive through the pandemic.
Posters showing candidates for the Municipality of Aarhus. Photographer: Jamie Szmitz
The campaigns still ran smoothly with campaigners still handing out flyers in the weeks before election day. However, undoubtedly COVID has impacted the elections both when practically voting as well as what policies and points are being discussed between parties.
Target Audience: International audience who may be interested in how democracy is practiced in other parts of Europe.
Danish local elections were held yesterday. Many citizens took online tests to figure out who to vote for. However, they have doubts on their reliability, as explains Aarhus’ mayor, Jacob Bundsgaard.
Video of people casting their votes at 17:00 in Aarhus’ City Hall. CREDIT: Maia Galmés Feuer
By: Fredrik Holtekjølen & Maia Galmés Feuer
16 November marks the day that Danish citizens walk over to different city venues to cast their vote. The Aarhus town hall doors have been witnessing fellow visitors that have been roaming in and out of the building throughout the whole day. Hundreds of meters of election sheets got swallowed by the ballot boxes, and around midnight the results were revealed.
For many Danes, the local elections can be a struggle, especially if they are first-time voters. This is why many citizens use online tests that seem to provide them with the answer to the most critical question: “Who should I vote for?”.
Aarhus-mayor’s test matches 87% with himself
Aarhus mayor, Jacob Bundsgaard, in the City Hall during the election day. CREDIT: Maia Galmés Feuer
The mayor of Aarhus, Jacob Bundsgaard, who has been in office since 2011 and represents the Social Democrats, has a different take on these tests. He believes voters should gather information from other reliable sources.
“An online test is a guidance, but not really that precise ”, says Bundsgaard. “Online tests are supposed to help voters make up their minds and make it easier to know which candidate you agree with the most”, he adds. One such test is created by state-owned DR. Here you match by percentage how much you agree with the party’s candidates.
“I took the test myself and I’m only 87% in agreement with myself”, Bundsgaard points out.
Used the test to make up her mind
For Irina Kakhoun, an Aarhus citizen that attended the City Hall polling station to cast her vote, the online test provided her sufficient information to feel confident with it.
Nevertheless, she claims that these tests “are not a great way to convey this information”, as they only show the answers that a candidate has to some specific questions but does not show what the questions code for or what policy they stand for.
Irina Kakhoun, a Danish citizen, after casting her vote in Aarhus’ City Hall. CREDIT: Maia Galmés Feuer
Kakhoun adds that she took the test because that was “what was available”, as she does not understand the system very well and does not know where to find that information.
“The online test seems like the easiest way to participate in democracy”.
Not trustworthy, according to expert
Christian Petersen, a political science graduate who works at the Town Hall, admits taking the online tests, but he does not base his vote on its results.
“I think the tests are too simple and I don’t trust them because it reduces complicated issues, like raising tax to agree or disagree, and that is a much more complicated matter than what a test can provide ”.
He suggests voters seek information on political matters through candidates’ social media accounts, but for those who are not interested in politics, it is better to take a test and base their vote on it, than not to vote at all.
Christian Petersen, a political science expert and worker in the City Hall, behind the desk during the elections. CREDIT: Maia Galmés Feuer
Denmark usually has a high voter turnout, and the current mayor expects these elections to be no exception – with or without online tests. He says citizens should first and foremost seek information on their own.
“The questions in online tests are formulated by people that have their own opinions, so it is important to make up your own mind”.
TARGET AUDIENCE: People within the EU with special interest in Danish political matters and using technology as a political tool.
With elections for local and regional councils being held in Aarhus today and has left many international students conflicted on whether to vote or not.
Poster campaign for Steffan Wich of the Socialdemokretiet Party. Credit; Olivia Williams
Outside a polling station in Aarhus, with people entering to vote. Credit; Olivia Williams
The second biggest city in Denmark has around 283 thousand living in it and welcomes a large network of Erasmus Students coming in and out of the place every year. The students who have traveled from within the European Union (or are EU citizens) are elidable to vote in local and regional elections, although opinion is torn as to whether this is fair.
I spoke with some Danish citizens to see how they, as Danes, feel about it,
Emil Faber “I can see both sides, but this vote is for how the city is to be run and managed and international people who have been here, some longer than Danes, will have a valid opinion on what is good and isn’t good in Aarhus”
Fredrik Schneider “I don’t agree with the fact that people from outside Denmark are able to vote. International students are here for a few months to a year most, so why should they get any say?”
Signe Pedersen “I’m not too sure why international students would want to vote, especially if they are only here for a few months but if they are studying here for a while then I think that is fair”
These mixed options run throughout Aarhus, further leaving international students undecided on what the best option is to do.
This article has targeted an international audience, as well as a Danish audience, who may or may not have an opinion on this matter.
The four-year gap is up for the next Local and Regional Election in Denmark, to decide who takes the office in the new year, and it is expected that a lot of people will be voting at polling stations – but how anti-Covid will it be?
Photographed is May Larsen, Worker at the Vejlby Risskov Hallen polling station. CREDIT // Daragh Ramage
By Daragh Ramage
The Danish Election will be held on Tuesday the 16th of November 2021. However, how safe is it to visit the polling station when there’s still the possibility of catching covid-19 as Denmark’s cases are on the rise.
Kommune Worker, May Larsen speaks about how they’ve made the polling station at Vejlby Risskov Hallen, in Aarhus, as safe as possible for people to come and vote, she says – ‘’It’s outside so there’s good social distancing, and hand sanitiser available.’’
Picture of at the Vejlby Risskov Hallen polling station desk. CREDIT // Daragh Ramage
Around 4.6 million election ballots were delivered to Danish citizens and foreigners the week before the election. Larsen comments on the matter:
“Hopefully introducing these extra safety measures will make people come and vote, whilst keeping the polling stations as ‘covid free’ as possible.’’ She spoke.
It is extremely important if you can vote to vote. All Danish citizens living in Denmark who are over the age of 18 can vote. And those who have resided in the ‘Kingdom of Denmark’ for over four years are eligible to vote in local and regional elections.
The corona-virus pandemic is still an on-going concern around the world today – This is an update on how Denmark is managing their elections, by enforcing these safety measures to ensure the well-being of their citizens – an influence to other countries.
Audience is aimed for those in from and visiting Denmark who can vote, whilst also informing other countries what Denmark is doing with regards to covid safety measures.
Voters have been making their way to polling stations across the region. But do any of them still have concerns over the risk of COVID and the factors of catching it at a polling station? Reporters Daniel Tidemann and Sam Shaw head to Molevangskollen to put the question to the mayor and the public.
Over two years have passed since the pandemic began. In Denmark, the situation has vastly
improved since then. But more recently, concerns have risen yet again over rising cases across the country, as the winter months draw nearer. Just a few weeks ago, the necessity to show coronapas came back for nightclubs, bars and restaurants.
Right now the infection numbers are as high as above 3,000 per day.
So with this, are people concerned about the risks of COVID 19 during such a public event? We caught up with Jacob Bundsgaard, the Mayor of Aarhus who in 2017 was reelected with 39.841 votes, to find out his viewpoint upon the situation.
“I definitely think some will be worried, but we have taken all the precautions we could. We have
made sure that there is protective equipment available and that people can vote inside and
outside,” stated Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard. At Molevangskollen, there were indeed many COVID
precautions in place, such as a COVID 19 rapid testing site set up outside of the polling station. This was being used by many, who wanted to lean on the side of caution being around so many others.
Mayor Bundsgaard seemed to take the stance that COVID 19 may not be a big issue for polling stations, and this was mirrored by the voters seen on the day as well.
“I feel very safe and I have already been vaccinated twice,” stated Mogens, a retired musician from Aarhus.
The overall sense here from the polling station is that voters is that COVID 19 is not anything to be
worried about. But if this will remain the same in the coming months, only time will tell.
