Democracy Hard-urned voting rights
Udon Thani, Thailand, 2011
Kabul, 2005
Bern, 1943
Dresden, 2009
Kinshasa, Congo, 2011
Ahmadabad, India, 2009
Tehran, 1997
Bern, 1999
Giza, Egypt, 2011
Inishfree Island, Republic of Ireland, 2009
Munich, 2009
Tokyo, 2010
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2006
Cairo, 2012
Chisinau, Moldova, 2009
Nairobi, 2007
Eva Peron voting, Buenos Aires, 1951
Seoul, 2004
Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France, 2005
Berlin, 2011
Surabaya, Indonesia, 2009
Switzerland is considered a model of direct democracy. Collecting signatures for referenda and initiatives is a regular occurrence, with up to four nationwide votes a year. Does direct democracy exist in other countries, and to what extent?
According to research from the Centre for Democracy Studies in central Switzerland, it is possible in 38 countries around the world to collect the signatures needed to force a vote. And it’s not opposition parties using this instrument, but civil society in most cases.
