As an American in the Netherlands, my mind is boggled, and my soul soothed by the sense of civic duty that shines through at each municipal election. Let’s talk about it.
During the most recent municipal election, voter turnout in the Netherlands reached up to 53.7% in total, according to Nu.nl.
Now, to some, that might sound meagre. It’s barely more than half, after all. To me, though, it’s magnificent.
The magic of a local voting queue
As I wandered over to the local library to place my vote on election morning this past Wednesday, I could hardly believe my eyes.
With toothpaste still on my breath, I witnessed a glorious queue – nay — a golden chain shining with engaged citizens, spilling out the sunshine-lit doors.
My feeble little American heart jumped. Could all these people really be eagerly waiting to cast their ballot? For a local election?
I witnessed, in real time, just how much people care. And it was absolute magic.
Why was it magic?
Local elections are nothing like this in the United States.
For reference, these are, in importance, the most equivalent to municipal elections in the Netherlands, where you vote not only for your leadership in the gemeente (municipality), but also in the stadsloket (city-region).
However, in America, election day for anything local (the mayor, county officials, state representatives) is often just another Tuesday, lost in the swarm of a busy life.
A few half-hearted signs grace the lawns of a rare concerned citizen, a speech is held in the auditorium of the local high school, but no one really turns up, or cares.
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And it shows: for instance, in US mayoral elections, election turnout is (even in major cities like Chicago), in the 30 to 35% range. That’s astonishingly low.
Even for major presidential elections, US voter turnout hovers around 64%, according to Pew Research.
For midterms, the number dips down to around 40%. This alone is absolutely shocking: midterm elections are no small thing — they determine who controls Congress for the remainder of a President’s term.
Yet even then, Americans don’t turn up as they should.
So for me, a political science student who has been begging her American peers to vote in everything they can, seeing a percentage above 50% in a local election is absolutely invigorating.
Now, for the hope
After that mountain of depressing statistics, it’s time for some positivity.
While things are bleak in my home country, seeing regular Dutch people show up and vote for the betterment of their community and, frankly, for themselves, keeps me hopeful.
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It’s not just a duty to vote. It’s an absolute privilege, and seeing how seriously the Dutch electorate takes their governance restores my faith that people care.
I lived far too long in a place where I believed people were simply too apathetic and busy to exercise their one influence on politics. For a long time, it broke something in me.
So thank you, Amsterdam, and the Netherlands at large. You’ve given me hope that when people know their rights and know they have power, they show up.
Did you vote in this last election? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
What’s the point if the mayor is not elected