May7

landsgemeinde.

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in a small Swiss canton, residents vote with a show of hands

 

You’re looking at a form of direct democracy. Recently, thousands of citizens gathered in the small Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden to cast their votes, not by filling in bubbles on paper ballots or using curtained booths, but by a simple show of hands.

For hours, questions boomed over loudspeakers about constitutional, legislative, and financial issues, in addition to elections for local leaders. Residents of the canton — home to roughly 17,000 – either raised their hands for “yes” or kept them down for “no.” From a wooden podium, the chief magistrate visually assessed the crowd to determine each outcome.

 The tradition, known as the Landsgemeinde, dates back over 600 years and survives in only two of Switzerland’s 26 cantons due to concerns over privacy and practicality in areas with larger populations. But locals note that thetransparency can be a strength. “I think it’s nice to have it direct and to talk with people about it and to hear arguments directly,” Ursulina, a 31-year-old voter, told Agence France-Presse.

Angela Koller, the head of the cantonal government, added: “Standing together with other people, you can experience politics with all your senses.” She noted that the system “isn’t perfect,”but “we have a culture here where people can tolerate that, where they know they have different opinions.”

 

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“what people have the capacity to choose, they have the ability to change.”

–madeleine k. albright

 

 

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source credits: france 24, fabrice coffrinni, AFP

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54 responses »

  2. how funny that, just when i opened my ipad, the Landsgemeinde title jumped at me. I thought ‘that can’t be’ and of course, i had to read you right away….. yes it’s a very special ‘thing’, but then, the Appenzeller are a very special people too – as ‘now’ they have a tendency to grow really tall and lean, whereas they used to be called (lovingly and with a smile) Appizällerli (small Appenzeller) because they tended to be short. Now any new Appenzeller i meet, is tall – i sometimes have commented on this – maybe they needed longer arms to be properly counted when voting!?!😅

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  4. I can see where it would be very appealing–there and in some places. I think some New England towns still have town meetings, though now I picture them all like the ones in Gilmore Girls. 😂 I can imagine this sort of gathering could be threatening and undemocratic in some places.

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  8. The Swiss and those in the Scandanavian parts of the world always get it right – and that’s why that part of the world is always so peaceful.

    I love the comment that citizens acknowledge this is not a perfect process but there is still a willingness to uphold this process and to respect civil disagreement. This is how we uphold democracy.

    I put my hand up in support of this! 🙋‍♂️

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  16. Something about standing together…shoulder to shoulder…so visually stirring and emotionally, too. I think we lose sight of the impact of our individualized decisions/preferences when we have vote in isolation. Love this…so much! 💝

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