ABSTRACT
Around1979-1981,theprospectsforelectoralreformseemed tobegoodinmanyEuropeanimmigrationcountries.Allthe Nordiccountrieshadbythenalreadychangedtheirelectoral laws,andDenmarkandNorwaywereabouttoextendvoting rights,alreadygivenNordiccitizensinlocalelections,toall foreigncitizens.IntheFederalRepublicofGermany,the federalgovernment'scommissioneronimmigrantissues, HeinzKiihn,hadin1979publishedthefirstconsistentprogrammeforanintegrationpolicy,recommendingamongother thingslocalvotingrights.IntheNetherlands,areformwas underway,anecessaryamendmentoftheconstitutionwas beingpreparedandabillamendingtheelectorallawwas expectedthereafter.1
