Beyond Theory: e-Participatory Budgeting and its Promises for eParticipation

The paper discusses the implementation of e-participatory budgeting (e-PB) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, highlighting its role in enhancing citizen participation in democratic processes through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Despite low traditional participatory rates, the e-PB initiative achieved nearly 10% participation, revealing important factors such as the significance of public works and citizens' perceived impact on decision-making. The study aims to contribute to the literature on electronic democracy and participatory budgeting, evaluating the prospects and challenges of using ICTs in local governance.