English version - Information for participants - Informationen für Ausgeloste - Das Projekt Hallo Bundestag

Welcome!

You have received a letter which we have summarised for you here:

Dear reader,

How can politics reconnect with people? This is the question addressed by the project Hallo Bundestag - Gewählt. Gelost. Gemeinsam. You have been drawn at random from the register of residents to participate in the Wahlkreistag (Electoral District Day) along with about 35 other people. For this, we would like to invite you to join us in the government premises.

You may be thinking: Why me? An Electoral District Day is about bringing together different people from the Electoral District and their diverse experiences to develop recommendations for the German Parliament. Random selection is what ensures this diversity. That is why it is very important to us that you, in particular, take part.

Click on the district where you live below to find out when and where the Electoral District Day of your electoral district will take place.

Where do you live?

Here is all the info about the Electoral District Day for Steglitz-Zehlendorf:

When: 09 march 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where: In the premises of the Bundestag

Topic: All aboard please! What matters when we shape the mobility of the future?

On this day, we will share your experiences and perspectives on how to shape the mobility of the future. What does mobility actually mean? For whom is it important? And how can we find socially just solutions in the area of conflict between climate and individual freedom?

Please let us know within seven days of receiving this letter whether or not you will be attending the Electoral District Day. There are several ways to do this:

Send us an email with your name to carl@esgehtlos.org,
call or send a WhatsApp/SMS to 0178 3164464.
You can also use your personal link or the QR code at the bottom of the original letter,
or send the enclosed card and envelope by post.

Here is all the info about the Electoral District Day for Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg – Prenzlauer Berg Ost:

When: 06 April 2024, from 10:00 - 17:00

Where: In the premises of the Bundestag

Topic: "I have earned this!" - How do we create a fair pension system now and for the future?

This is what it's all about: The population in Germany is getting older and older. This means that more and more people are receiving pensions, but fewer and fewer people are paying into the pension fund. And even now, some people can no longer live on their pension. At the Electoral District Day, we will discuss their experiences and views on this issue and talk about possible solutions.

Please let us know within seven days of receiving this letter whether or not you will be attending the Electoral District Day. There are several ways to do this:

Send us an email with your name to leonie@esgehtlos.org,
call or send a WhatsApp/SMS to 0160 99618529.
You can also use your personal link or the QR code at the bottom of the original letter,
or send the enclosed card and envelope by post.

Here is all the info about the Electoral District Day for Hagen – Ennepe-Ruhr-Tal I:

When: 27th April 2024 from, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where: Hagen town hall, Wasserloses Tal 2, 58093 Hagen

Topic: Your democracy, your influence: How can we strengthen our political voice?

Many people have taken to the streets for democracy in recent months. But how up-to-date is our democracy? At the Electoral District Day, we want to talk about our current electoral system. We also want to discuss whether and how we can have more direct influence on politics: Should we elect the Federal Chancellor directly? Do we need referendums at federal level? What else could help to strengthen our democracy?

Please let us know within seven days of receiving this letter whether or not you will be attending the Electoral District Day. There are several ways to do this:

Send us an email with your name to paul@esgehtlos.org,
call or send a WhatsApp/SMS to 0177 1696607.
You can also use your personal link or the QR code at the bottom of the original letter,
or send the enclosed card and envelope by post.

Here is all the info about the Electoral District Day for Erfurt-Weimar-Weimarer Land II:

When: 16 March 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where: Haus Dacheröden, Am Anger 37, 99084 Erfurt

Topic: Who pays for climate protection? Between the debt brake and intergenerational justice

On this day, we will discuss your experiences and perspectives on how climate protection can be financed in the future. What does the debt brake actually mean and what impact does it have on the funds needed for climate protection? What does the state have to do and what can society do to secure the basis of life for future generations?

Please let us know within seven days of receiving this letter whether or not you will be attending the Electoral District Day. There are several ways to do this:

Send us an email with your name to juliane@esgehtlos.org,
call or send a WhatsApp/SMS to 0178 3164650.
You can also use your personal link or the QR code at the bottom of the original letter,
or send the enclosed card and envelope by post.

Here is all the info about the Electoral District Day for Roth:

When: March 2, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where: DORMERO Schlosshotel Reichenschwand, Schloßweg 8, 91244 Reichenschwand

Topic: A compulsory social year - an important experience for everyone or too much of an encroachment on personal freedom?

On this day, we will discuss your experiences and views on whether there is a need for compulsory civilian service in Germany, such as a compulsory year of community service. What are the arguments in favor? What are the arguments against it? The topic was created at the request of the members of parliament from your Electoral District.

Please let us know within seven days of receiving this letter whether or not you will be attending the Electoral District Day. There are several ways to do this:

Send us an email with your name to mia@esgehtlos.org,
call or send a WhatsApp/SMS to 0178 3164419.
You can also use your personal link or the QR code at the bottom of the original letter,
or send the enclosed card and envelope by post.

Strengthening democracy!

The Electoral District Day at a glance

What is an Electoral District

You may know that the Bundestag has members from all parts of Germany. Therefore, the country is divided into so-called electoral districts. Several members of parliament (MP) are sitting in parliament on behalf of the people from your electoral district. In order for the MPs to learn more about how the people in their electoral district are doing, what they think and how they think politics should change, there's the Electoral District Day.

What is a Electoral District Day?

On Electoral District Day, people drawn by lot from an electoral district talk about a federal policy issue. In the morning, you will receive information on the topic and then get into conversation with each other in small groups in an appraising atmosphere. The discussion will be facilitated so that everyone can have their say and be heard. In the afternoon, the results are brought together in the large group. At the end, the members of the Bundestag from your electoral district are also available for a conversation and will learn about the outcomes of the discussions.

Who is taking part?

You and about 35 other people from your electoral district will take part in the event. All participants will be drawn at random from the register of residents. We make sure that genders and age groups are equally represented.

Why all this?

Democracy works when everyone's voices are heard, because different life experiences lead to different needs and perspectives. Our goal is to bring these into conversation with each other. With a facilitated exchange in which everyone has their say, we enable the participants to introduce, get to know and understand different points of view. In the end, this will also help the members of parliament who make decisions for you in the Bundestag to better understand what is important to you.

What is “Hallo Bundestag - Gewählt. Gelost. Gemeinsam.”?

With this project, we want to explore ways in which diverse people can have their voices heard in politics. To this end, we are holding three Electoral District Days in each of six electoral districts in different parts of Germany in 2023 and 2024. In the end, this will lead to proposals for the Bundestag on how our political system can be strengthened through discussion formats with randomly drawn participants at the electoral district level.

Who is behind it?

Es geht LOS is a non-profit and non-partisan initiative supported by the association Demokratie Innovation e.V. and Bürgerpolitik.org. We want to strengthen social cohesion in our democracy. To this end, we carry out participation projects with randomly selected participants. The project Hallo Bundestag is supported by various foundations, including the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Zeit-Stiftung and the Open Society Foundations, as well as the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.

More Info

Further information and frequently asked questions

We are happy to support you in talking to your employer about getting a leave of absence. Please get in touch with us.

We finance childcare for all age groups as well as a carer for relatives. Please contact us!

If you need special assistance (interpreter, sign language interpreter, transport service, other assistance), please write us an e-mail or call us.

On the Electoral District Day, you will receive a compensation of 100€ for your time and possible travel expenses. We will take care of the catering on the Electoral District Day.

If you follow a vegetarian/vegan/lactose-free/gluten-free/halal/kosher or other diet, please indicate this in your reply. We will take care of it.

No. The Electoral District Day is about the politicians getting to know your views. At the end, however, you can still talk to the MPs and they can comment on the topic.

Nothing. Just bring an open mind to talk to people from your electoral district about issues that affect all of you. We provide all the necessary information at the Electoral District Day itself.

Absolutely! Each person brings a unique perspective to the issue based on their own life experience. And you might be surprised at what can change with your influence.

If there are other reasons that prevent you from participating, contact us and we will try to find a solution so that you can take part. If it is really not possible at all, please let us know that as well.

Please be sure to let us know whether you are attending or not. To do so, either use the enclosed reply card, your personal link or QR code on the invitation or get in touch by email, Whatsapp/SMS or phone call. We would be happy to send you all further info by email. Therefore, please include your email address or another contact option when responding.

The collectively developed conclusions will be handed over to the members of parliament. The latter will explain how they will deal with them in their work. The project also aims at developing recommendations for the Bundestag on how such formats as the Electoral District Day can become part of the political system in the future. To this end, the project will be evaluated by an independent agency. This evaluation will also be published. In addition, we will present other ways to stay in touch with us at the Electoral District Day.

We got your data from the registration office. We use the data exclusively for the realisation of the Electoral District Day, do not pass it on to third parties and will delete it after the event.