Action grants to explore the role of internet tools in stimulating democratic participation and to investigate how digital tools can contribute to the stronger and longer-term engagement of citizens, under a Pilot Project E-voting: making the best use of modern technologies for more active and democratic voting procedures

Topic description

Scope:

1. Priorities and activities to be funded

1.1. Priorities

European society has changed considerably over the last 25 years as EU citizens increasingly live and work in other Member States. EU citizenship gives these mobile EU citizens the right to vote and stand in elections to the European Parliament and to municipal elections under the same conditions as nationals of their host State. Mobile EU citizens may also wish to exercise their right to vote in their home states. Political participation is central to citizenship, and it is essential to legitimising decision making in government. However, EU citizen's political participation can be affected by red tape and outdated voting procedures. At the same time, low turnout in elections, including European Parliament elections and particularly among young people, is a challenge for democracies. To address these issues, ways should be explored to stimulate participation in elections for all citizens by making it easier to vote, including by making best use of modern technologies.

1.2. Description of the activities to be funded under this topic

The activities funded under this pilot project's call for action grants aiming to:

• explore the role of internet services and applications in stimulating democratic participation and to investigate how digital tools can contribute to the stronger and longer-term democratic engagement of citizens;
• elicit a broad range of proposals especially but not exclusively targeting young people and mobile EU citizens.

Stimulating democratic participation and contributing to stronger and longer-term democratic engagement should be understood in terms of (sustainably) increased voter turnout and voter engagement in the political process, and the activities which support this, such as accessible, efficient voting and registration processes, accessible and engaging political processes (such as involvement in candidate selection, debates etc), and accessible and transparent voter information. The results of these projects will contribute inter alia to a tele-voting good practice guide aiming to help make voting procedures more accessible to mobilise a broader group of voters and thus enhance democratic participation at the EU level. All projects must be prepared with a specific, though not necessarily exclusive perspective on the 2019 European Elections.

While national projects are eligible, successful proposals should aim to produce results with EU added value.

Projects must address the overall priority of exploring how digital tools, applications or internet services can be used to stimulate democratic participation and/or contribute to sustained engagement in citizens. Projects should be targeted and practical and aim to provide a demonstrable benefit for democratic life in the EU. Benefit in these terms is to be understood as potential to mobilise voters – particularly from the two groups indicated above – or sustaining, facilitating or strengthening their participation, through improved information, greater or smarter access to information (including political media literacy), analytical assistance (such as voter information tools), streamlined processes, accessibility aids, and tools, digital processes or good practices to support electoral authorities. Projects targeting tele-voting should consider how the secrecy and independence of the vote can be secured, alongside considerations of streamlining and accessibility. Projects targeting mobile EU citizens should reflect an awareness of EU initiatives and policies in this area, and the acquis on citizenship. Projects targeting young people should also be considered in the light of the aims of the current study procured by the Commission on the impact of internet and social media on youth (democratic) participation and youth work [see http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/about-eacea/calls-for-tender-eacea/study-impact-internet-and-social-media-youth-participation-and-youth-work_en].

Projects must be based on recognised, sound methodology. All project proposals must describe their success measures, and the methodology used to evaluate the benefits projects will deliver will be considered alongside the methodology used to deliver the projects themselves when evaluating their suitability.

Projects can approach providing benefit through investigation of the effectiveness of existing/newly developed interventions/tools/practices (as above), or by supporting the development of new interventions/tools/practices, or by supporting the use of existing/newly developed interventions/tools/practices through training, promotion or information. Projects which pursue the development of new interventions/tools/practices must propose how they will be used in the Member States, and proposals for training, promotion or information must consider how the widest possible dissemination/access to trained individuals will be achieved. Projects which investigate existing/newly developed interventions/tools/practices must explain how their outcomes will enhance their usefulness or otherwise achieve benefit in the terms set out above.

Projects which include interagency or multidisciplinary cooperation or collaboration will be valued positively, if that collaboration can be shown to deliver benefit in the terms set out above. The involvement of national or local authorities is likely to be needed for any successful project, and the specific authorities involved should be appropriate to the project's aims. However, there may be approaches to delivering benefit in terms of democratic participation which do not require official involvement or where direct official involvement is not appropriate.

Projects which target accessibility of the voting process or of democratic participation in a more general sense should clearly identify the groups that they are targeting and their needs which the project aims to address. Weight will be given to proposals which can demonstrate a direct impact on voter turnout. Projects which include information or promotion campaigns should set out specific agendas for when such campaigns will be carried out, their duration and expected impact, and the methodology by which such impact can be assessed.

The indicative available budget under this call for proposals is EUR 700,000.

The requested grant should preferably not be higher than EUR 350,000 or lower than EUR 75,000. The aim is to be able to co-fund at least two transnational projects. The Commission reserves the right not to award all available funds, depending on the projects received and the outcome of the evaluation procedure.