How to vote in Netherlands

The European elections take place on 6 June 2024.

In the Netherlands, voters will elect 31 Members of the European Parliament in 2024, 5 more than in the 2019 elections. This increase is due to the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union as well as population growth in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands uses preferential voting, which gives voters the option to indicate their preferences within the party list they choose. Candidates who receive the most preferential votes are more likely to be elected.

People who wish to stand for the elections should register with the Electoral Council on 23 April 2024. Subsequently, a complete list of all candidates is made available on the Electoral Council's website. In addition, participating political parties publish their own definitive lists of candidates on their websites.

Political parties wishing to take part in the elections register with the Electoral Council on 23 April 2024. After this date, you may find more information on which parties are participating on the Electoral Council's as well as parties' own websites.

In the Netherlands, there is no threshold for political parties to be elected to the European Parliament. Parties do need to receive a sufficient percentage of votes for one seat. In the Netherlands, 31 Members of the European Parliament are elected. Thus, a political party needs to get at least 3.23% of the total number of votes to secure 1 seat.

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

No, there is no legal obligation to vote in the European elections in the Netherlands.

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

• at least 18 years old on election day;
  
• a Dutch national or a national of another EU country;
  
• not disqualified from voting.
  

In addition, you can also vote as an EU citizen from another Member State. You have to submit an application (Y 32 form) to the municipality no later than 23 April 2024.

Dutch citizen voting in the Netherlands
You can vote in polling stations (in Dutch) based in your municipality. You can find your nearest polling station on the front of your voting pass. If you wish to vote in another municipality, you need to request a voter's pass on the Electoral Council's website (in Dutch).

EU citizen voting in the Netherlands
You have to register to vote no later than 23 April 2024. You register with your municipality using the Y 32 form, which can be requested from your local municipal office. Once successfully registered, you can vote in polling stations (in Dutch) based in your municipality. You can find your nearest polling station on the front of your voting pass.

Dutch citizen voting from abroad
If you live abroad, you may register permanently as a 'Dutch voter abroad' on the municipal website of the Hague no later than 25 April 2024. Once successfully registered, you automatically receive your postal voting pass and return envelope by post before each election.
If you are temporarily abroad, e.g. on holiday, you can only vote by proxy. You can authorise another person to vote on your behalf (i.e. by proxy) using either the back of your voting pass or a separate authorisation form (model L8). The authorisation form must be submitted to your municipality no later than 3 June 2024.

Dutch citizen voting in the Netherlands
You do not need to register to vote. You automatically receive a voting pass at your home address, two weeks prior to election day at the latest.

EU-citizen voting in the Netherlands
You must register to vote no later than 23 April 2024. You register with your municipality using the Y 32 form, which can be requested from your local municipal office.

Dutch citizen voting from abroad
If you live abroad, you may register permanently as a 'Dutch voter abroad' on the municipal website of the Hague no later than 25 April 2024. Once successfully registered, you automatically receive your postal voting pass and return envelope by post before each election.
If you are temporarily abroad, e.g. on holiday, you can only vote by proxy. You can authorise another person to vote on your behalf (i.e. by proxy) using either the back of your voting pass or you can request a written authorization (schriftelijke volmacht) using a separate form (model L8). The authorisation form must be submitted to your municipality no later than 3 June 2024.

You need to bring your voting pass and identification. For identification a Dutch ID card, passport, or Dutch driver´s license is allowed. This document may have expired for a maximum of 5 years.

All polling stations should be accessible for voters with a disability. In some cases, voters may be given assistance when casting their vote.
Read more about accommodations for voters with a disability on the Dutch government official website (in Dutch).

ProDemos publishes an 'Ordinary language election paper' (in Dutch) in the run-up to the elections. More easy-to-read information about European elections is also available on the page "Easy to read" of this website.

No, it is generally not possible to vote by mail. Only Dutch citizens residing abroad who are registered as voters outside the Netherlands may vote by mail.

No, online voting in the European elections is not possible in the Netherlands.

Yes, it is possible to vote by proxy in the European elections in the Netherlands. You can authorise another person to vote on your behalf (i.e. by proxy) using either the back of your voting pass or you can request a written authorization (schriftelijke volmacht) using a separate form (model L8).

If you authorise someone via the back of your voting pass, this person must live in your own municipality. You fill in the back of your voting pass. Do this together with the person you want to authorise. This way you can be certain that you are authorising the right person. Both you and the authorised person must sign the voting pass.
Give the authorised person your voting pass and a copy of your ID card, passport or drivers license. The authorised person must show the copy of your ID at the polling station. The authorised person must also show their own ID at the polling station. They can only vote for you while casting their own vote. An authorised person can vote for a maximum of 2 other persons per election.

Do you want to authorise someone from another municipality? Or are you unable to fill in the back your voting pass yourself? Or are you unable to provide a copy of your ID? Then you can submit a written request to your own municipal office. The necessary form (model L8) is available online and at your municipal office. You and your chosen authorised representative must both sign the form, and your representative will receive a certificate of authorisation. Please make sure your authorised representative signs this form first. This way you can be certain that you are authorising the right person. You must submit this form no later than five days before the election. Once it is approved by your municipal office, you cannot withdraw the request. In this case, your authorised representative need not bring a copy of your ID, only their own ID. Again, they can only vote for you while casting their own vote.