Purpose:
to improve immigrants' knowledge about their voting rights and by this improve immigrants participation in elections; to produce accessible information about the elections in clear and simple language; to inform immigrants about the election process.
Stimulus/Rationale:
At the end of 2017, Reykjavik City set up a working group to explore ways to improve participation in local elections. The data showed that specific groups are taking less part in elections than others. These groups are mainly young people, disabled people, women older than 75 years, and immigrants.
Participation of immigrants in local elections has been very low, according to data provided by the Statistic Office of Iceland – in 2006 - 40,4% of citizens with voting rights took part in local elections in Iceland (62,5% from Nordic countries and 34,4% from other countries) and in 2014 – just 21% of citizens with voting right took part in local election in Iceland (56,7% from Nordic countries and just 17% from other countries).
Process:
After consulting with representatives of all the above-mentioned groups (representatives of grassroots movements), the task group came up with actions that have been accepted and financed by the City Council of Reykjavik.
The main obstacle for the mentioned groups in participating in elections appeared to be the lack of accessible information about the elections. There is a need to spell out this information in a much more clear and simple language and to make it available in open and accessible places. Also, people had difficulties understanding the difference between local and state elections and where and how to vote. The main aim of the actions is, therefore, to properly inform them about the election process.
The City of Reykjavik decided to introduce actions targeting immigrants. At first, information will be gathered and set in simple and accessible language, in Icelandic and at least English and Polish. The mentioned information will be published on the web page www.egkys.is . The information campaign will be launched and directed to specific groups on social media. The information campaign will also be visible on the boards in the city, at bus stops, shopping centres and companies where immigrants work. Moreover, an official letter will be sent to immigrants getting their voting rights for the first time to inform them about their rights and orient them to the polling station. NGOs and civil society associations will also be involved in the information campaign. Last but not least, the City will make a specific service on the day of elections more accessible for immigrant groups, for example, by advertising the info-line in languages other than Icelandic and employing people to speak languages other than Icelandic on the election day. The city wants to ensure that information about the participation of immigrants in elections will be gathered in all elections.
Additionally, City of Reykjavík The Human Rights Council granted financial support to the project “Class in Politics for Immigrant Women” organised by the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association. The project fulfilled the aims of the city’s human rights policy, working against gender inequality and supporting the city's intercultural approach.
The school took 7 weeks, and the programme consisted of the basics of the political system in Iceland both on municipal and governmental levels, “unwritten” rules of politics, empowerment training for women, and training in making speeches, contacts with media and interview skills. The participants had the opportunity to meet representatives of all political parties represented in the Icelandic Parliament and visit Alþingi guided by parliament members.
Class on politics was advertised on social media and on the home pages of immigrant associations. The class teacher was Ms Sabine Leskopf - a substitute in the City Council of Reykjavik. She is herself an excellent example of the possibility for foreign women to take an active part in political life.
The action was implemented thanks to the cooperation between the Women Rights Association, W.O.M.E.N. - Association of Foreign Women in Iceland, and the Human Rights Council of Reykjavik.
Impact:
The working group report provoked debate in the City Council, and the counsellors reconsidered their approach to voters. The action plan got media attention, which created a public debate about societal changes and the need for a different approach for political parties while organising the campaigns.
The municipality considered it inappropriate to organise the voting campaign. However, all rules on impartiality were followed, and the focus was set on participation in elections; the ruling coalition did not avoid being suspected of trying to influence the voters in their favour.
The actions did not have a substantial influence on raising participation in 208 local elections but for sure created debate and changed the approach to different voter groups in the city.
Twenty women from different countries took part in the training. Women's Rights Association will submit the closing report and the evaluation to the Human Rights Council.
Key reference documents: Final report 201
