Chongqing - Super 80 Street in Nan'an District, Chongqing, was once the largest 1980s-style complex in the city downtown. However, with the rapid pace of urbanization, this once-vibrant area began to lag behind more modern developments.

Residents observed that the area became outdated over time, with parts lacking essential infrastructure like barrier-free access. The absence of elevators posed major difficulties, particularly for elderly and disabled residents.

In 2015, the Nan'an District People's Congress took action, launching a system that prioritizes key public projects through a voting process. This initiative, a first in Chongqing, ensured that people's concerns were heard and addressed through representative voting.

The Nan'an District in Chongqing conducted a representative voting system for public livelihood projects. (Photo/Nan'an District)

Through the voting system, the renovation of old residential areas in the district has been included as part of the district's key livelihood projects. 

The Super 80 Street renovation project began in November 2020 and was completed in May 2023. It revamped 112 buildings, covering 5,776 households and a total area of 539,000 square meters.

To improve accessibility, the district enlisted disabled individuals as supervisors to offer feedback and identify concerns. This led to the addition of three new barrier-free ramps and upgrades to five existing ones, significantly improving access for disabled and elderly residents.

The transformation of Super 80 Street is just one example of how Nan'an District's representative voting system is helping to tackle vital public concerns. 

The renovation of the bus station in Nan'an District, Chongqing. (Photo/Nan'an District)

After nine years of implementation, the voting system has evolved into a "four-step" working method: proposed by the public, decided by deputies, executed by the government, and overseen by the People's Congress.

For example, projects are widely solicited through online platforms, and the district government selects 30 annually for consideration as key initiatives. Following discussions, the top ten projects, determined by vote count, are chosen as the final key initiatives for the year.

This system has now completed 93 major projects, including old neighborhood renovations, improvements in healthcare and education, and upgrades to transportation. 

Furthermore, the district has addressed 103 key public concerns at the district level and 195 at the town level, renovating nearly 1 million square meters of old housing, upgrading hundreds of neighborhoods, adding 1,800 parking spaces, and installing over 200 elevators in old buildings, benefiting more than 1.2 million residents.