Innovation in democracy – legitimacy through proportional voting methods

Thanks to digitalisation, citizens can now vote through online platforms. How do such tools affect trust in democratic institutions and perceptions of political legitimacy? A research project led by Regula Hänggli from the University of Fribourg used the Participatory Budgeting project in Aarau as a case study to explore this question. Citizens submitted projects they wished to see implemented in the city. These were then subjected to a feasibility study, after which the residents of Aarau could vote on the projects digitally using a proportional voting system. Unlike a typical vote, where each person has one vote, participants could distribute ten points among at least three projects. In contrast to majority-based voting, where the project with the most votes wins, the project's budget also influenced the outcome. Each person was allocated an equal share of the budget, which could only be used to finance projects they had voted for. A project was selected if it could be funded with the budget shares of the voters supporting it, with more expensive projects requiring more votes. Ultimately, projects were implemented within the available budget.

Key findings

Using this method, citizens of Aarau could vote digitally on 33 different projects, 17 of which were selected and implemented by the end of 2024. Before and after the implementation phase, the population was surveyed on their trust, perceived legitimacy and their capacity to take action to assess changes in views and behaviour. The case study demonstrates that employing a proportional voting method increases legitimacy and trust.

Digital tools are also effective when they are designed and developed from the beginning to meet users' needs and integrate technical requirements with democratic values (value-based design). Transparency is essential in processes, decision-making criteria, and responsibilities so that digital procedures are regarded as legitimate by people. The platform must also be designed to reflect fundamental social values such as fairness and inclusion. Initial and follow-up surveys are necessary to evaluate and adjust their impact on trust, legitimacy, and political competence.

Relevance for policy and practice

Online platforms enable citizens to participate actively and easily in political decisions and help shape them. The research project significantly contributed to advancing democratic decision-making processes in the digital age and promoting a more equitable distribution of resources. It also demonstrates that voting based on ten points better reflects voters' preferences across different project categories than the traditional single vote. New (proportional) voting methods can strengthen perceived legitimacy and trust compared to conventional (majority-based) procedures. This is because the online platform in Aarau directly influenced participants’ trust in democratic processes and their perceptions of the legitimacy of political decisions. The fact that many Aarau residents wished for the project to continue is a testament to the success of this digital decision-making approach and indicates that a budget process is an effective way of involving citizens in policymaking. Proportional voting methods can be implemented in cities and municipalities, as well as at cantonal or national levels.

Three main messages

1. Legitimacy has several dimensions. Whether a political decision is perceived as legitimate depends on various factors: whether you have a say (input), how fair the process is (throughput) and how satisfied you are with the outcome (output). In traditional voting, these aspects are often perceived together. In new formats, such as the participatory budget process in this case study, they were assessed separately. People thus considered more actively whether the process and the result were fair. The quality of the process is particularly important here. However, even a fair process cannot fully compensate for unsatisfactory results, which illustrates the complex interaction of the dimensions of legitimacy.

2. Proportional voting is perceived as fairer. If people can distribute their votes among several projects and the evaluation is carried out according to a proportional procedure, they feel better represented, perceive the process as fairer, and are more satisfied with the result, compared to classic majority procedures. Proportional voting can therefore strengthen legitimacy at all levels.

3. Voting methods should be tailored to the situation. If voting methods are adapted to the specific decision-making process, they can be fairer, more inclusive and more credible. The project demonstrates that participatory processes are particularly helpful in difficult or complex situations. Digital tools offer new opportunities to implement such votes, but also present hurdles, such as accessibility. More research is needed to ensure that such methods work nationwide. Other potential applications include decisions regarding the distribution of funds or resources.

You can find out more about the methods used by the researchers and further background information on the research project on the NRP 77 project website:

Further NRP 77 research projects on digital transformation can be found here: