On Thursday, SOS Mitmensch started the federal presidential elections “Pass Egal”. Until October 4, all people who are not eligible to vote in Austria can cast their vote in this way. This time there is a new project in schools.
“We will not stand idly by when 1.4 million eligible voters living here are barred from running in federal presidential elections. Almost every fifth person in Austria is now excluded from democratic participation. This divides our society and weakens our democracy,” the representatives of the human rights organization SOS Mitmensch said in a broadcast. In their “Passport Doesn’t Matter Vote”, everyone living here could cast their vote, regardless of their passport. This affects not only voters, but also voters who want to show a sign of solidarity.
Local throughout Austria
This is possible until October 4 at locations in all federal states of Austria, but also by post and voting mobile (only in Vienna). In addition, the “Pass Egal Wahl” will be offered in schools for the first time this year. According to SOS Mitmensch, 50,000 students of voting age will not have the right to vote in the upcoming federal presidential election. The project simulates a democratic election and offers an accompanying conversation. More than 45 schools have registered so far, according to SOS Mitmensch. Further registrations will be accepted up to and including 16 September.
The “Pass Egal Wahl” is carried out together with cooperation partners such as associations and NGOs, including Volkshilfe and Diakonie. “Democracy thrives on participation, not exclusion! Let’s send a strong signal together for an open democracy,” reads the association’s newsletter. Nearly 4,000 people from 95 countries cast their votes in the 2019 “Pass Egal Wahl” (around the National Council election, note Nearly 3,000 of them had no Austrian citizenship.
As reported, there has recently been a discussion in Austria about citizenship as a condition of voting in Austria. For example, political scientist Peter Filzmaier proposed linking the right to vote to the place of residence and a certain length of stay. ÖVP and FPÖ are against. Others, such as representatives of the Greens and the SPÖ, have called for easier access to citizenship in the past. This would probably also benefit some who are currently not eligible to vote.
The presidential election itself is scheduled for October 9. In addition to incumbent Alexander Van der Bellen, FPÖ candidate Walter Rosenkranz, MFG boss Michael Brunner, blogger Gerald Grosz, lawyer Tassilo Wallentin, shoe manufacturer Heinrich Staudinger and beer party boss and musician Dominik Wlazny.
Source: Krone
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