Strengthen the voting power of the younger generation for future-oriented decisions.

The population is aging rapidly. Older people currently make up the majority of eligible voters. This development leads to political decisions being more focused on maintaining the status quo – at the expense of future issues such as climate, education, and innovation.

Problem

• Currently, certain groups – such as older generations – can dominate elections a…: Currently, certain groups – such as older generations – can dominate elections and votes, even though they do not represent the majority of the population. This can lead to political decisions in the…
• Younger generations are underrepresented and tend to be charged more often for g…: Younger generations are underrepresented and tend to be charged more often for generational redistribution.
• Older people participate more frequently in votes and constitute a growing share…: Older people participate more frequently in votes and constitute a growing share of eligible voters. As a result, they have a stronger influence on many decisions, including those whose consequences a…
• With increasing aging, politics focuses more on current problems. Topics with lo…: With increasing aging, politics focuses more on current problems. Topics with long-term impact, such as climate, education, digitalization, or innovation, are insufficiently prioritized.
• Parties follow the majority of voters, leading to a content bias in favor of old…: Parties follow the majority of voters, leading to a content bias in favor of older generations and to the detriment of long-term issues.

Solution

• Before each vote, the federal government sets age group-specific voting weights …: Before each vote, the federal government sets age group-specific voting weights based on the current population structure. The counting is weighted to maintain democratic balance between generations.
• Introduce voting and referendum rights for youth to increase the weight of young…: Introduce voting and referendum rights for youth to increase the weight of young votes and align parties more strongly with future issues.
• Parents exercise the voting rights of their children on their behalf until they …: Parents exercise the voting rights of their children on their behalf until they reach voting age. This way, the future perspective of coming generations flows directly into political decisions.
• People lose their voting rights upon reaching the regular retirement age. This e…: People lose their voting rights upon reaching the regular retirement age. This ensures that political decisions are primarily made by those who will still experience their long-term consequences.
• After retirement, the vote is weighted by a factor of 0.5–0.75. This way, all el…: After retirement, the vote is weighted by a factor of 0.5–0.75. This way, all eligible voters remain included, but the overweight of older groups is balanced out.

Benefit

• With votes weighted by age group, political power is distributed more fairly – e…: With votes weighted by age group, political power is distributed more fairly – each generation receives influence proportional to its size. This allows young people to have more say in a future in whi…
• When political decisions are perceived as fair and balanced, mutual trust betwee…: When political decisions are perceived as fair and balanced, mutual trust between young and old grows – and social cohesion increases.
• When younger generations are better represented, long-term issues such as climat…: When younger generations are better represented, long-term issues such as climate, education, and innovation come back into the focus of political decisions.
• A balanced generational influence strengthens the willingness to take new paths,…: A balanced generational influence strengthens the willingness to take new paths, take risks, and implement reforms—instead of sticking to the status quo.
• A future-oriented democracy promotes long-term planning, investment security, an…: A future-oriented democracy promotes long-term planning, investment security, and innovative strength—the foundations for economic stability and future viability.