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FIGURE 5. Popular participation in Folketing elections (U/OU) (graph/chart)
Voting procedures in municipal elections (defined in a series of special laws) is almost identical to that used in national elections. Like Folketing elections, the local elections are decided through a proportional representation system and by secret ballot. Every fourth year in March (latest in 1970), the voters throughout the nation simultaneously choose the membership of the provincial councils, rural municipal councils, town councils, and Copenhagen city council - a total of nearly 12,000 officials in all. The right to vote is held by every person who is permanently domiciled in the district concerned and entitled to vote in the Folketing elections. Eligible for election are all those who hold the right to vote and have not been punished for a criminal offense. In order to accept a post in local government - which is regarded as a civic duty - an elected person must have paid his income taxes, both national and local, in full.
Danish voters may also be called upon at irregular intervals to pass final judgement on certain legislative acts of the Folketing. By provision of the constitutional revision of 1953, one-third of the members of parliament may demand a popular referendum on bills other than those relating to finance, government loans, taxation, most treaty obligations, naturalization, and a few other special categories. The bill is annulled if it is opposed by a majority of those voting and not less than 30% of all eligible voters.
Danes take their right to vote seriously and go to the polls in large number. There are no legal sanctions against those who do not vote. Voter participation tends to be higher in national than in municipal elections, which in turn usually draw more voters than do referendums. The 1968 national election witnessed a near record 89.3% turnout, the best since the 89.5% registered in the wartime election of 1943, when the Danes were eager to demonstrate their dedication to democracy to their German occupiers. The national election of 1971 saw an 87.2% participation. In the 1970 municipal election participation was 72.6%, compared with an exceptionally high 77.0% in 1966 and 74.4& in 1962.
FIGURE 6. Campaigning methods. left Old - single candidate expounding the platform of his party, right New - candidate of the several significant parties debate. (U/OU) (pictures)
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110016-6
