With compulsory voting abolished, Flemish government seeks to boost turnout
In the local elections of 13 October, it will no longer be mandatory to go to the voting booth in Flanders. The Flemish government, however, has launched a campaign to encourage people to cast their vote anyway.
Just before the summer holidays of 2021, the Flemish Parliament passed a decree that would reform the local elections. For the first time since the introduction of multiple votes in 1892, voting would not be compulsory anymore.
“We were one of the last countries in Europe with compulsory voting,” minister Lydia Peeters of Open VLD said in defence of the outgoing government's measure on Tuesday. “The enforcement was nil.”
Now, however, a month before the local elections, the parties are facing uncertainty over the potential impact that the abolishment of compulsory voting could have on voter participation and the results.
The October election will be the first test of the new system and experts remain divided on its potential consequences. Some predict a significant drop in turnout, while others suggest that those who are more politically engaged will still make vote.
The Flemish government is therefore launching an awareness campaign that includes TV spots, social media posts, and public outreach efforts. It has hired an advertising agency that also works for brands such as Red Bull, Torfs and Jumbo.
Meanwhile, socialist party Vooruit has seized the moment to push for the reintroduction of compulsory voting. It has tabled the proposal during ongoing government formation talks in Flanders, arguing that the outgoing Flemish government made a mistake by abolishing the requirement.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE / Lydia Peeters at the kick-off of a campaign to make citizens aware of their right to vote in local and provincial elections © BELGA VIDEO MAARTEN WEYNANTS
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