Guide
What participation formats are there — and when does each fit? A practical overview of the key methods, from the classic town meeting to the digital platform.
Citizen participation is not a single procedure but a whole toolbox. Some methods gather broad feedback, others rely on intensive deliberation in small groups. The art is choosing the format to fit the question, the audience and the effort available.
Broadly, a distinction is made between formal procedures required by law and informal ones a municipality offers voluntarily — and increasingly digital formats that complement both and clearly lower the barrier to taking part.
Formal procedures are legally regulated — such as public participation in land-use planning. Informal procedures are voluntary, flexible and often more dialogue-oriented. The two combine well.
Not every format fits every question. Votes and online platforms suit broad prioritisation; dialogue formats like citizens’ assemblies suit deep deliberation.
Residents help decide how part of the municipal budget is spent.
Randomly selected people develop recommendations with facilitation.
Small groups deliberate intensively on a concrete planning question.
A creative format in three phases: critique, utopia and implementation.
Gather structured feedback on clearly defined questions.
Collect ideas, vote and follow up transparently — from anywhere.
Formal procedures are required by law and bound to deadlines, for example in land-use planning. Informal procedures are offered voluntarily by a municipality — they are more flexible in format and often more dialogue-oriented.
Digital formats like online participation and the digital participatory budget lower the barrier the most, because you can take part from anywhere without a fixed appointment. They combine well with in-person formats.
Yes, and it is even recommended. A broad online idea collection can be deepened in a citizens’ assembly, for instance — giving both reach and well-founded recommendations.
Collect ideas, vote and show transparently what comes of them — ready in minutes.
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