Do you dream of more green areas in your city? Are you tired of high housing prices? Or maybe you have school-aged children and worry about their education? Then read on here.
In less than a month, there will be municipal and regional elections in Denmark, and you can help shape the future of your city, even if you are not a Danish citizen. A record number of foreigners will be able to vote in the upcoming election. In fact, it is expected that 10 percent of eligible voters are non-Danish citizens, and as for Copenhagen, it is more than 20 percent.
Therefore, Politiken has compiled a series of questions and answers about the upcoming election in this article.
When is the municipal election and what is it?
Make sure to mark your calendar! On Tuesday, November 18, the municipal and regional elections will be held across Denmark, where citizens will select their local representatives for the next four years.
Denmark is divided into 98 municipalities that handle tasks close to citizens and their everyday lives. These include areas such as public schools, childcare, elderly care, public transportation, and integration of immigrants.
The three largest municipalities in Denmark are Copenhagen Municipality (669,000 citizens), Aarhus Municipality (377,000 citizens), and Aalborg Municipality (226,000 citizens).
Additionally, Denmark is divided into five regions responsible for, among other things, the healthcare system and psychiatry. Representatives for the regions will also be elected on November 18, but it is important to note that two regions will be merged at this year’s election. Instead of five regions there will be four in total: North Denmark Region, Central Denmark Region, Region of Southern Denmark and Region of Eastern Denmark.
Can foreigners vote?
Yes, if you meet certain criteria, you can vote as a foreigner in Denmark at the municipal and regional elections. It is estimated that around 480,000 people without Danish citizenship will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election.
You are eligible to vote if you:
- are are above 18 years of age
- permanently reside in Denmark
- and either are a Danish citizen, a citizen of another EU Member State (including Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom), or have been permanently residing in Denmark for the last 4 years.
Who can you vote for?
In the Danish Parliament, Folketinget, there are 12 political parties: Enhedslisten, Alternativet, SF, Socialdemokratiet, Radikale Venstre, Moderaterne, Venstre, Konservative, Liberal Alliance, Dansk Folkeparti, Danmarksdemokraterne, and Nye Borgerlige.
For the local elections, you can choose either to vote for a party or for a candidate from one of the parties. In municipal elections, many voters cast their ballots for a candidate – this is called a personal vote. Moreover, there are also local parties running in the municipal elections.
Since 1938, the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen has been a Social Democrat, but this year might see a shift in power, according to several political commentators and polls. So far, four candidates have announced their intention to run for the mayoral position. These are Line Barfoed from Enhedslisten, Sisse Marie Welling from SF, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil from Socialdemokratiet, and Jakob Næsager from Konservative.
Although it may seem confusing, Frederiksberg is not part of the Copenhagen Municipality. Despite being located in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg is its own municipality and therefore has different candidates for the municipal election.
How do you vote?
You will receive a polling card by mail at least five days before the election. The card will tell you where to go to cast your vote on election day. This could, for example, be at a school, a town hall, or a sports center. On election day, you need to bring the polling card to receive a ballot. Here is a step by step guide:
- you hand over your polling card to the election officer and provide your date of birth.
- if you have lost your polling card, you can get a new one by showing your identification, such as a health insurance card, driver’s license, or passport.
- you receive two ballots. One for the municipial election and one for the regional election.
- you enter the voting booth and mark your ballot paper. You can either vote for a party or for a candidate. You can also choose not to mark the ballot paper – this is called a blank vote.
If you are unable to show up in person on election day, you can vote in advance until November 14. This usually happens at the citizen service center or a library – check your municipality’s website to find out where you can vote early. Don’t forget to bring identification.
What are the key political issues?
An analysis from Momentum, Local Government Denmark’s magazine, uncovered the most important election themes for voters in the upcoming election. Health and elderly care are the two areas most citizens consider crucial for their vote. Additionally, climate and environment, public schools, and public transportation are also high on the list.
For the youngest age group, 17-24 year olds, climate and environment is the top priority, with 39 percent of respondents saying it’s the most important issue.
Why is it important?
The municipal and regional elections are likely the ones where citizens can have the most impact on their daily lives. City councils in the municipalities decide on matters such as the number of social educators in kindergartens, whether new housing will be built, if public transportation should be expanded, and much more.
Municipalities also hold responsibility for integration efforts, such as language education, housing, and labor market entrance.
What is the voter turnout?
In the last local election in 2021, voter turnout was 67.2 percent, according to a study conducted by the University of Copenhagen. Among foreign citizens, 29.1 percent headed to the polls. Voter turnout was highest among foreigners from the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, while it was lowest among foreigners from Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland.
read next
