This three-week service design project explores the growing disconnect between young people and electoral participation in Italy, with a focus on first-time voters in Bergamo. Despite being civically active, many young people are choosing not to vote. 37% of voters aged 18–34 abstained in 2022, even as a majority engage in other forms of civic action. This reveals a critical gap between participation and formal democratic engagement.
Through field research with young voters and experts, the team identified key barriers around visibility, relevance, and trust. Voting is often perceived as a one-time act with little visible impact, leading to disengagement and a weakened belief in the system.
The project responds with Participazione, a service designed to reframe voting as an ongoing act of participation. At its core is La Voce, a digital platform that enables young people to engage with and vote on real municipal proposals.
The strategy unfolds in three steps. Firstly, it meets young people where they already are, embedding participation into everyday social spaces such as cafés, bars, sports centres, and events. Secondly, it encourages them to engage with local issues, building familiarity and confidence in decision-making over time. Third, it incentivises participation through local partnerships, making engagement both visible and rewarding.
By making participation continuous, local, and tangible, Participazione helps young people connect their voice to real outcomes. In doing so, it shifts voting from a distant obligation to an active, everyday practice, laying the foundation for stronger democratic engagement at both local and national levels.
