This correlation between voter-participation rates and social situation in the examined urban areas was also clearly visible in the 2015 parliamentary elections of the northern city-states of Bremen and Hamburg (both studies in German) – and was even more pronounced when compared to the federal parliamentary election. In urban areas dominated by members of the socially weaker societal milieus and characterized by high unemployment and low incomes, voter participation was significantly lower than in the districts that were stronger in socioeconomic terms. Thus, the state parliamentary elections in both Bremen and Hamburg are no longer socially representative.
After taking stock of these situations, we focus on developing solutions that could potentially contribute to reversing voter-turnout trends in both the short and long term. To do so, we are organizing academic exchanges, gathering international experiences and working on developing concrete recommendations for action. On a very practical level, we can build upon some of the projects on political participation that we have already successfully completed, such as our "Schülerhaushalt" project (in German only).