Refugees experience Dutch democracy firsthand during vote counting in Rotterdam
Sixteen refugees with status in the Netherlands participated in Rotterdam’s transparent vote-counting process, offering them a unique insight into Dutch democracy. For many, it was their first experience with free and fair elections, contrasting sharply with their home countries’ systems.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Ahoy, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland |
| Participants | 16 status holders (refugees from Iran, Syria, and other countries) |
| Activity | Assisting in sorting and counting votes for local elections |
| Supervisor | Alexandra Poeth, regional connector for status holders |
| Previous Participation | Third time (previously during European and parliamentary elections) |
| Home Countries Mentioned | Iran, Syria |
| Unique Aspect | Rotterdam is likely the only Dutch city offering this opportunity |
The Municipality of Rotterdam, through its regional connectors for status holders, facilitates integration programs that allow refugees to engage with Dutch civic processes. This initiative highlights the city’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in democratic participation.
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‘In our country, the regime decides who wins’
At the vote-counting center in Ahoy, a group of 16 status holders are also present. These are people with a refugee background who, in their home countries, were often not accustomed to free elections. “It’s wonderful to see how people here work together.”
Thursday morning, March 19, Ahoy. The diverse halls are packed, yet there is order and calm. At large tables, people are sorting, counting, and verifying votes with great concentration. In one corner of the hall, 16 status holders are working at four tables.
Seeing how it works
“Isn’t this a great day?” beams Alexandra Poeth, regional connector for status holders in this region and supervisor at one of the tables. “Honestly, it’s so much fun and incredibly valuable for the participants. They get to see how voting works here and how transparent it is. They’re actively involved and have to speak Dutch all day.”
Counting per candidate
With intense focus, Babak and his neighbor are organizing a massive roll of ballot papers in order. “We receive ballot papers from one polling station, already counted by party,” Alexandra explains. “We then have to count them per candidate. First, we need to sort the ballots.” A substantial task, especially given the volume of ballots.
A small piece of paper
For Babak (46) from Iran, this is particularly special. “In Iranian elections, you get a small piece of paper with the names of a few candidates. You can choose one, but the regime decides who wins.” He has never experienced a public vote count like this. Iranian Parisa (55) agrees. “It’s wonderful to see how well people cooperate here,” she says. If she had been allowed to vote, she would have chosen Leefbaar Rotterdam. “They have good ideas about clean, green streets and housing.”
First, studying the parties
Jamila (46) and Mohamed (56), a married couple from Syria, are cheerfully working at the counting table. “It’s really fun to be part of this,” Jamila laughs. “In Syria, we couldn’t vote. If we had been allowed to vote here, I would have chosen DENK.” Mohamed would have voted for “green” policies. Raad (43), another Syrian at the table, says he would first thoroughly study the parties before casting his vote.
Great enthusiasm
This is the third time Alexandra has taken a group of status holders to help with vote counting. “Three years ago, during the European elections, we tried it for the first time. It went well, so we did it again for the parliamentary elections in November. And now we’re doing it again. The enthusiasm among status holders to participate was so high that we had to turn some people away.”
The only city
Alexandra is proud that this is possible in Rotterdam. “I shared this idea with the national network of regional connectors for status holders. But in most cities and regions, there isn’t a central vote-counting location like this. So we’re probably still the only city where this happens. Really, it’s about action, not talk!”