Get Involved in Barcelona’s Future: What Expats Need to Know About Decidim

For those of us who have been residents in Barcelona for years, a common question arises: how can we participate in decisions that shape the city we live in? It's clear that if you're not a Spanish citizen and your home country doesn’t have a reciprocal voting agreement with Spain, your voice won’t be heard in local elections.

However, since 2016, the city government has launched an initiative — now an official digital platform called Decidim ("We Decide") — to promote direct democracy and transparency and to actively involve residents in shaping city life. The platform is open-source and has also been used successfully in other cities like Helsinki and Mexico City.

Personally, I believe making the platform multilingual would be a major step forward. It would foster greater inclusion and allow for broader representation of different community perspectives.

Why It Matters (for Expats)

Every resident should understand how city investment is distributed across districts and neighborhoods. City-funded projects affect everyone's quality of life: from green spaces and housing to mobility, culture, and education.

In other words, voting on Decidim gives expats a real voice in shaping the neighborhoods they live in. If we are here to live, integrate, pay taxes, respect local customs, and promote internationalism, it is not only our right but also our duty to participate in decisions about how public money is used.

Participation helps build inclusive policies, encourages understanding across communities, and ultimately strengthens social cohesion and mutual respect.

How Decidim.Barcelona Works (and What It’s For)

Barcelona’s participatory budgeting follows multi-year cycles, but the platform remains active year-round. That means residents can engage at any time — not just during voting windows.

• 2020–2023 Cycle: Barcelona’s first citywide participatory budgeting cycle, with €75 million allocated.
• 2024–2027 Cycle: The current cycle, with €30 million for citizen-chosen projects.
  The phases include:
  • Proposal submission (Oct–Nov 2024)
  • Technical review and feasibility assessment
  • Public voting (currently active)
• Beyond budgeting, residents can:
  • Propose ideas year-round on topics like sustainability or community improvement
  • Join debates and collaborative discussions
  • Attend neighborhood assemblies and track progress of ongoing projects

How to Submit a Project Idea

While ideas can be submitted at any time, to be considered for participatory budgeting they must be submitted during a specific submission phase. For this cycle, it ran from October to November 2024.

The city then reviews proposals for technical and legal feasibility. If accepted, proposals advance to the public voting phase, which is what’s happening right now.

How to get involved with Decidim.Barcelona and how to participate in voting

1. Register on Decidim.Barcelona.
2. Verify your ID (DNI or NIE) and confirm you're empadronado in Barcelona.
3. Choose Projects Across Two Districts: Each resident can vote for projects in their district of residence and one additional district of their choice. Within each of these two districts, you can support as many projects as you like — as long as the total value of your selected projects doesn't exceed the allocated budget for each district.
4. Use Google Translate or browser tools like Chrome’s built-in translator if needed.

What’s Happening Now?

The current process is the Participatory Budgeting 2024–2027, where citizens vote on how public funds should be spent in their neighborhood.

• Voting Dates: May 12–17, 2025
• Who Can Vote:
  • Residents aged 14 or older
  • Registered in Barcelona's municipal census (empadronamiento)
  • Must verify identity (DNI/NIE with a city address)
• Residents can vote for up to 10 projects within their district and one additional district of your choice. 

Barcelona is divided into 10 districts, each with its own allocated budget — ranging from €2 million (Les Corts) to €3.6 million (Ciutat Vella, Sants-Montjuïc, Nou Barris, Sant Martí). Each district has 20–27 approved projects to choose from.

Explore all Decidim proposals here!

What Types of Projects Can You Vote For?

Common categories include:

• Urban Green Spaces: Parks and community gardens
• Mobility & Transport: Bike lanes, pedestrian upgrades
• Culture & Education: Libraries, community centers
• Sustainability: Renewable energy, waste reduction

How to Vote (Step by Step)

1. Go to the Participatory Budgeting section: main voting page
2. Select your district (e.g., Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Sant Martí...)
3. Browse project proposals. For example, I live in Poblenou, part of Sant Martí:
   Sant Martí project page
4. Review descriptions, costs, and benefits
5. Vote for up to 10 that matter to you
6. Tip: Start with your own neighborhood, and filter by area on the left-hand menu.

Can You Change Your Vote?

Yes! If you’ve already voted but want to change your selection — for example, to include another district — you can do so anytime during the active voting period. Just log in to your account on the Decidim.Barcelona platform, revisit the budgeting section, and update your vote. Once the voting ends, changes will no longer be possible.

Bonus Tip for Easier Access

If you use Windows 10 or 11, you can install Decidim.Barcelona as an app. This gives you easier access and even lets you use the platform in English (via Chrome Translate). Just trigger the Chrome Translate pop-up and select “Install app” when offered.

If you're on a Mac, the process is similar. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, go to More tools > Create shortcut, then check "Open as window." This gives you a simple, app-like window for Decidim.Barcelona on your Mac.

Final Call: Vote by May 17th!

This Saturday, May 17th at 8pm. is the last day to vote. There’s still time to support the projects you believe in — whether they benefit your immediate neighborhood or serve the broader community.

Your vote counts. And maybe, just maybe, it inspires you to stay involved, or even prepare your own proposal for the next cycle.

So I urge all fellow residents — especially those from international backgrounds — to seize this opportunity and help shape the future of the city we call home.