During voting periods, the Swiss citizens have access to plenty of sources to inform themselves about the several topics at stake, however discussions between people are an underrated yet powerful tool to exchange diverse opinions before voting. The actual voting process still remains mainly individualized. The goal of this proposed initiative is to transform the voting process as a more collective process, promoting interaction between voters with organized and spontaneous discussions.
A complete system is designed and integrated within the city, allowing it to get activated and create a unique dynamic during the three weeks pending the votations. The system is fully interconnected – physically, virtually and mentally – and evolves in accordance with the voters. The study case for this initiative is the City of Lausanne.
To promote a collective way of voting, several architectural interventions dedicated to encounters for political discussions will be spread in the public spaces of the city. Therefore the city takes part in the voting process and becomes active. In order to activate the entire public space in the best way, the designed interventions are divided in three different scales, which will be presented further.
The system works collectively so every intervention is linked to the others in three ways. First to activate the discussion or to supervise it, moderators spread around the city will be partially or permanently present in place. Secondly, the various places of interactions will be linked geographically by the same means of transport : voting bikes. And thirdly, all the places follow a similar design as a visual cue.