How to vote in Croatia

The European elections will take place in Croatia on 9 June 2024.

Voters in Croatia will elect 12 Members of the European Parliament in 2024.

Under EU law, all countries must use voting systems that ensure proportional representation, which means that the number of elected members from each party depends on the share of electoral votes obtained by the party. Croatia uses preferential voting, meaning that the voter circles on the ballot paper the number before the name of the candidates list. If voters wish to give a preferential vote to a candidate on that list, they circle the number before the name of that candidate. Thereby that candidate is given the advantage on that list and they are more likely to be elected.

Candidate lists are submitted by political parties that have to be registered as such on the day when the official decision about the election date is published in the Official Gazette of Croatia. Groups of voters can also submit their lists, provided that they have gathered at least 5,000 signatures for a list. Candidate lists are submitted to the State Electoral Commission, at the latest 14 days following the official announcement of the election date.

Candidate lists are submitted by political parties that have to be registered as such on the day when the official decision about the election date is published in the Official Gazette of Croatia. Groups of voters can also submit their lists, provided that they have gathered at least 5,000 signatures for a list. Candidate lists are submitted to the State Electoral Commission, at latest 14 days following the official announcement of the election date. There are 12 candidates on each candidate list.

A candidates list has to clear at least 5% of the votes in Croatia in order to obtain a seat in the European Parliament. In practice, as there will be 12 Members of the European Parliament from Croatia, each political party will need to get at least 8.33% of the votes to secure a seat in Parliament.

In Croatia there is just one national constituency, which means people across the country and abroad choose from the same list of candidates.

No, there is no legal obligation to vote in Croatia.

You are eligible to vote in the European elections in Croatia if you are:

1. at least 18 years of age on election day
2. a Croatian citizen residing in Croatia or abroad
3. an EU citizen with a legal residence in Croatia registered to vote for those elections

Croatian or EU citizen voting in Croatia
As a Croatian or EU citizen willing to vote in Croatia, you have to vote in the specific polling station designated by your home address.
To find out your nearest polling booth, check out the website of the Ministry of Justice and Administration (in Croatian) after the elections have been officially announced. If you wish to vote at another polling station in Croatia or abroad, special registration is required.

Croatian citizen voting from abroad
Croatian citizens residing in Croatia but willing to vote from abroad have the right to vote in person in the European elections at polling stations in Croatian diplomatic-consular offices provided prior registration within the set deadline is made.
Croatian citizens not residing in Croatia and willing to vote from abroad have the right to vote in person in the European elections at polling stations in Croatian embassies and consulates. If you have been issued an e-identity card with residency abroad, you are automatically registered to vote at the polling station pertaining to your residency. If you have not been issued such an e-identity card, you have to register within the set deadline. If you fail to register, you are entitled to be issued a voting certificate on election day at the embassy or consulate.
For further information, please refer to voter registration information at the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration or at the website of the State Electoral Commmission of the Republic of Croatia.

Croatian citizen voting in Croatia
As a Croatian citizen residing in Croatia, you don't need to register beforehand. Your polling station is decided based on where ryou live. If you wish to change the polling station location, prior registration within set deadine is required.

EU-citizen voting in Croatia
As an EU citizen living in Croatia, you need to register beforehand.
You may find more information on the section "e-Citizens - Information and Services" of the website of the Government of Croatia.

Croatian citizen voting from abroad
As a Croatian citizen residing abroad and willing to vote from abroad, you don't need to register beforehand if you have an e-identity card and if you plan to vote at the polling station pertaining to your residency.
However, if you don't have an e-identity card or if you plan to vote at a polling station not pertaining to you residency, you need to register in the Croatian embassy or consulate of the country you want to vote.
If you live in Croatia and wish to vote at a polling station abroad, you will have to register either with the competent authority in Croatia or in the Croatian embassy or consulate.
The form for registration and further information are available on the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration and on the website of the State Electoral Commmission of the Republic of Croatia.

You should bring your identity card or your passport, and exceptionally your driving licence or other public document with a photograph on the basis of which your identity can be established.

According to the European Parliament Elections Law (in Croatian), a voter with a disability can come to the polling station acompanied by another person who is literate and who can select the candidate the voter is voting for.
If voters are unable to access the polling station, they have to notify the Elections Committee. The president of the Elections Committee appoints at least two members of the Committee or deputies who will visit voters where they live and enable voting.
Detailed instructions can be found on this website. (in Croatian)

You may find easy-to-read information about the European elections on the easy-to-read page of this website and on the official website of the State Electoral Commission of the Republic of Croatia (in Croatian).

No, you cannot vote by mail in the European elections in Croatia.

No, you cannot vote online in the European elections in Croatia.

No, you cannot vote by proxy in the European elections in Croatia.