European Elections 2024
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What are the European elections?
In the European elections,
people in the European Union vote for Members
to represent them in the European Parliament.
The European Union is known as the EU.
Elections take place in all 27 EU countries.
How often do the European elections take place?
Elections take place every five years.
The last elections were held in May 2019.
When are the next elections?
The next elections will be from 6 to 9 June 2024.
EU countries have elections on different days.
For example,
the Netherlands has elections on Thursday,
and France has elections on Sunday.
Why is it important to vote?
When you vote,
you choose the Members of the European Parliament.
These Members make decisions
that affect your daily life.
For example,
these decisions affect jobs,
healthcare and the environment.
Your vote matters.
If you vote, you have a say.
What are the rules of the elections?
If you want to vote,
you may need to register.
You can only vote once in each election.
You can vote if you are an EU citizen.
You are an EU citizen if you are a national of an EU country.
You can vote in the elections in the EU country of which you are a citizen.
If you live in another EU country, you can vote there.
You can only be a candidate in one EU country.
This could be the EU country of which you are a citizen.
Or, if you live in another EU country,
you can be a candidate there.
Where can I find information on how to vote?
Where can I find the results of the elections?
What do Members of the European Parliament do?
Members of the European Parliament are called MEPs.
MEPs represent the 450 million people who live in the EU.
MEPs look at plans for new EU laws.
MEPs also change laws to make them better.
MEPs and the Council of the EU decide on the EU budget.
MEPs check how the EU is working.
MEPs vote on trade agreements with countries outside the EU.
MEPs elect the President of the European Commission.
How many MEPs will be elected?
In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected.
The number of MEPs is decided before each election.
The total number of MEPs cannot be more than 750 plus the President.
There are currently 705 MEPs.
Each EU country can have a minimum of six MEPs and a maximum of 96.
What happens after the elections?
The elected MEPs work to form political groups.
Groups include MEPs from different countries and political parties.
The groups have common aims.
MEPs elect a President for the Parliament.
MEPs also elect the President of the European Commission.
Find out more on the European elections home page.