Ahead of the upcoming European elections, 27 illustrators, one from each European Union member state, designed posters on the theme of democratic participation.
This comes as part of Get Out & Vote, an initiative of Fine Acts, a global non-profit studio for social impact.
All works are published under an open license, so citizens, non-profit organizations and activists can download them and use them non-commercially to spread the message about the importance of voting for Europe’s future.
“Voting is very important because our elected officials shape our society. Many people find elections difficult to understand and overwhelming. This is especially true during the European Parliament elections. And I understand it. It’s complicated. But if you don’t vote, others will decide for you! These are big decisions – climate, immigration, AI – and we shape these choices together,” says Sidsel Sørensen, an illustrator and animation director based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Between concept and development, Sørensen spent several days perfecting the contestant images.
“Usually I spend quite a bit of time sketching during the ideation stage. The process often starts and ends over several days. This election may lead to a right-wing shift in the European Parliament. I hope not. Because that would be very bad for European climate policy. The inspiration for the image came from imagining how much legislation would be enacted at EU level instead of focusing on the positive. could do If we all voted greener, we would help guide green policies across Europe,” says the artist.
For Italian illustrator Mattia Riami, who won a scholarship to earn a bachelor’s degree in visual communication at IED in Milan and then became part of the team of graphic designers and illustrators at global fashion brand United Colors Of Benetton, voting is a civic event that should not be happening. to be ignored
“Voting is not only a right, but also a civic duty that strengthens the foundation of a democratic society. Voting gives every individual the opportunity to express their thoughts, values and concerns, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and representative political environment. Ignoring this process means abdicating your responsibility to shape your future and that of future generations,” says Riami, who spent a total of three days creating illustrations for the project.
“Today we face a series of challenges that threaten democracy in Europe and erode common values such as equality and justice. Our poster voting collection targets young people and aims to inspire hope, optimism and enthusiasm about the potential impact of voting,” says Yana Buhrer Tavanier, Executive Director of Fine Acts. This initiative, supported by the Culture of Solidarity Fund, is part of Fine Acts’ larger campaign in support of European unity and values. June election.
How are European elections conducted?
Voting for 2024 begins on Thursday 6 June in the Netherlands, followed by Ireland and Malta the following day and Latvia and Slovakia on Saturday. This year many EU member states will vote on Sunday 9 June.
Most voting takes place on a single day, although Czechs vote on Friday and Saturday and Italians vote on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition to voting in the European elections on Sunday, Belgians will also spend time voting in national and regional elections.
By the end of June 9, it will be clear which party holds 720 seats in parliament, 15 more than in 2019. The UK took part in the last European election before leaving the EU, after which some seats were redistributed or redistributed. It will remain in reserve once the EU expands.
Who can vote in European elections?
In most EU countries you must be over 18 to vote, but in Germany, Austria, Belgium and Malta you have to be 16 and in Greece the minimum age is 17. Voting is available in some countries, including Luxembourg and Bulgaria. Required.
You must bring identification such as a driver’s license, PPS card, or passport. A full list of acceptable IDs can be found at Electionalcommission.ie. Acceptable forms of identification are also listed on the back of your voting card and include passport and driver’s license.
