The participatory budgeting process in Brazil, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, has been a large-scale initiative involving online voting. Here are some key points based on studies of this system:
- Increased Turnout with Online Voting: One study found that the introduction of online voting (i-voting) during the participatory budgeting process led to an 8.2% increase in total voter turnout. This supports the mobilization hypothesis, as most online voters were new participants rather than previously engaged individuals seeking convenience. The online voting option primarily attracted younger, higher-income, and more educated citizens who were frequent social media users (Spada et al., 2015).
- Non-Partisan Mobilization: Another study tested non-partisan voter mobilization through emails and text messages, finding that it increased participation by 4.7 percentage points without skewing vote preferences. This demonstrates that mobilization efforts can increase turnout without affecting the fairness of outcomes (Peixoto et al., 2017).
- Demographic Differences Between Online and Offline Voters: Despite demographic differences between online and offline voters, research indicated that policy preferences between the two groups remained similar. Thus, while online voting attracts a different demographic, it does not necessarily change the outcome of votes (Mellon et al., 2017).
This initiative in Brazil highlights how online voting can improve voter participation and empower new demographics without significantly altering the policy outcomes, though it tends to engage younger and wealthier citizens more effectively.
Participatory budgeting has been implemented in various cities across the world, each providing unique insights into the process:
- Porto Alegre, Brazil: The first participatory budgeting process took place in Porto Alegre in 1989, designed to address corruption and economic inequality. This model has since spread globally, influencing how local governments allocate budgets in a transparent and democratic manner (Weber et al., 2015).
- Chengdu, China: Participatory budgeting in Chengdu, with over 17 million inhabitants, has significantly improved basic service provision. Over 20,000 projects worth $2 billion have been funded, enhancing local governance and the quality of public services (Cabannes, 2015).
- United Kingdom: In cities like Newcastle, participatory budgeting is used as a developmental tool. It aims to increase democratic accountability and improve transparency in local government finances (Brun-Martos & Lapsley, 2017).
- Guelph, Canada: One of the earliest examples of participatory budgeting in Canada, Guelph's model allowed local residents to participate in the allocation of public and private funds, contributing to more community-driven development (Pinnington et al., 2009).
- New York City, USA: Participatory budgeting in New York City has helped broaden civic engagement, though city agency involvement and austerity measures have sometimes limited the process's full potential in empowering citizens (Su, 2018).