Every Vote Counts: Social Themes on the Political Agenda

The 'Every Vote Counts' campaign in Flanders, Belgium, sought to bridge the gap between politics and socially vulnerable citizens. By interviewing over 8,000 people and collaborating with 200 local partners, the initiative developed a memorandum on social topics focusing on solidarity and redistribution. The campaign used policy proposals, lobbying, and a dedicated website to push for affordable housing, fair taxation, and accessible healthcare, successfully bringing marginalized groups into electoral debates with party leaders across 13 cities.

• The 'Every Vote Counts' campaign acted as a participatory project to provide socially vulnerable groups with a platform to influence political and public debate and develop policy proposals to combat poverty and social exclusion.
• The campaign's research phase involved working with over 200 local partners in Flanders and interviewing more than 8,000 individuals from groups that typically avoid mainstream politics.
• The initiative produced a memorandum centered on solidarity and redistribution, advocating for a transparent tax system where the wealthiest pay more, as well as investments in basic facilities, sustainable jobs, education, affordable housing, and healthcare.
• The campaign achieved tangible results by increasing the attendance of socially vulnerable people at electoral debates with party leaders in 13 cities.
• The campaign utilized a website titled 'Voting is not a game' and visible actions, such as a tented camp, to highlight social challenges and specific demands, such as the requirement that rents should not exceed one-third of a person's income.

APA

Holemans, D. (2014). Every Vote Counts: Social Themes on the Political Agenda. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/every-vote-counts-social-themes-on-the-political-agenda/

Chicago

Holemans, Dirk. Every Vote Counts: Social Themes on the Political Agenda. Green European Journal, 2014. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/every-vote-counts-social-themes-on-the-political-agenda/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Holemans |first1=Dirk |title=Every Vote Counts: Social Themes on the Political Agenda |publisher=Green European Journal |date=1 August 2014 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/every-vote-counts-social-themes-on-the-political-agenda/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{holemans2014every, author = {Holemans, Dirk}, title = {{Every Vote Counts: Social Themes on the Political Agenda}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2014}, month = aug, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/every-vote-counts-social-themes-on-the-political-agenda/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }