Voting rights to Permanent Residents
Denmark is a country built on the principle of folkestyre, meaning government by the people. Today, the people who power Denmark’s economy, healthcare, and innovation are not the same group of people who are allowed to vote.
We believe that if you contribute to the foundation of a society, you should have a say in its future, regardless of your passport.
Permanent Residents should have voting rights in the Folketingsvalget.
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Over 600.000 international residents live in Denmark. We aren't just guests. We are the breathing present, together with our Danish sisters and brothers. We pay into the welfare state, our children go to Danish schools, and our daily lives are governed by the Folketing.
When 10% of the population is not participating in the national debate, democracy becomes a closed circuit. This creates a disconnect between a part that pays for the system and those who decide how it’s run.
True integration requires a stake in the community. -
No Taxation Without Representation: This is the core principle of modern democracy. If you contribute to the collective tax pool, you should have a say in how those funds are spent.
Social Cohesion: Giving people a vote encourages them to stay, invest, and integrate deeper. It turns expats into citizens-in-waiting.
Policy Accuracy: When a democracy is not steered by 10% of the population, we cannot make informed policy decisions regarding labor markets, education, and international relations because we aren't hearing from the people actually living those realities.
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Voting is a privilege reserved for citizens
Citizenship in Denmark is currently a 10-20 year process with shifting requirements. It is no longer a realistic bridge to representation. If the path to citizenship is broken, we must find another way to ensure residents are represented. You shouldn't have to wait two decades to have a say in how your taxes are spent.
It is against the Constitution (Grundloven)
Section 29 of the Danish Constitution currently links the right to vote in parliamentary elections to Danish citizenship. However, the Constitution is a living document intended to protect the people of Denmark, and today, the people includes 600.000 residents who are excluded from that protection.
We are suggesting a constitutional evolution, just as the Constitution was amended in 1915 to include women and in 1953 to change the succession, today it needs to be modernized to reflect a globalized labor market and a diverse population. If the law no longer fits the reality of the people it governs, the law should be debated and updated.
Foreigners might vote for interests that aren't Danish
History shows the opposite. People who move to Denmark usually do so because they admire Danish values, the welfare state, the work-life balance, and the transparency. By giving us a vote, we empower Denmark to protect the very things that brought us here in the first place.
It undermines the value of being Danish
What is more Danish than fairness and democracy? Including us neighbors in the democratic process doesn't take anything away from those born here. It strengthens the system by making it more robust and reflective of the actual population.
Our Proposal
Denmark will be stronger with a legislation that grants national voting rights to any individual holding a Permanent Residency permit in Denmark.
This ensures that the electorate consists of people who are committed, integrated, and legally entitled to stay. To obtain Permanent Residency in Denmark, an individual must already meet strict criteria:
Years of full-time employment.
Passing Danish language exams.
A clean criminal record.
Financial self-sufficiency.
We aim to move Denmark from a traditional democracy based on ancestry and citizenship to a Modern Democracy based on contribution and residency.