Eligibility Exception:
insanity, imprisonment, disfranchisement as result of certain criminal convictions, deprivation of parental authority or guardianship over children
Right Vote Foreign Res:
Foreign residents right to vote for local elections or equivalent only
Expat Residency Requirement:
Expatriate citizens always have right to vote with no time limit
Registration Type:
Automatic registration
Registration Basis:
Residence requirement
Election Management & Enforcement
Nameof EMB:
Electoral Council
Independent EMB:
No
EMBNominations:
7 members selected by the Monarch. Expert based membership.
EMBTenure:
4 years
Who Runs Election:
Election Management Body
Candidacy & Campaign Rules
Restrictto Candidacy:
All eligible voters can stand for election. Additionally, a person who will turn 18 years old during the parliamentary term can stand as well and, if elected, they are put on a so-called “reserve list” until they turn 18 when they may start their mandate. Candidate registration starts with the EC registering names of political groupings, which are defined as associations with legal capacity as established by a notary on the basis of the group’s charter. Such a group may register its name with the EC and pay a deposit of EUR 450 submitted at least 43 days before the deadline for candidate list nomination. Non-registered groupings and individual candidates are also allowed to compete with the so-called ‘blank lists’.
Debate Average:
1
Debate Format:
2017: two candidates, Rutte and Wilders.
Opinion Polls Embargo:
No embargo
Electoral System & Organisation
Elect System Main Election:
Proportional with threshold
Main Election Type:
General
Main Election Cycle:
4
Numb Round Main Election:
One
Referenda_Law:
Citizens can propose referendum.
Referenda_Binding:
Never Binding
Voting Machine:
None
Vote IDRequired:
ID check compulsory
Polling Card:
Polling card sent but not compulsory
National Holiday Elect Day:
Never
Dayof Election:
Wednesday
Polling Station
Average Voterby Polling Station:
1433
Normal Opening Time Poll Station:
730
Normal Closing Time Poll Station:
2100
Polling Station Numbers:
9000
Listof Polling Station Buildings:
communal buildings, such as churches, schools, and more recently, railway stations
Unusual Polling Station Buildings:
tram, windmill, In Zuidplas, cyclists and motorists have the option of drive-in voting, polling station on the 20th floor of the A'dam Tower in Amsterdam, Rail commuters at Utrecht's central station could vote on their way to work
Accessibility Requirement:
Party to UNCRPD
Ballot Box Transparency:
Fully opaque
Box Feeding System:
Voter
Vote Receipt:
No receipt
Count Locallyor Centrally:
locally
Manualor Automatic Count:
manual
Ballot Paper
Ballot Type:
Paper
Singleor Multi Paper Ballot:
Single
Ballot Paper Type Description:
Single ballot paper. A single vote can be given to one of the candidates of the voter's preferred party.
Remote Voting List:
Dutch citizens abroad may vote by postal ballot for elections to the Lower Chamber of Parliament and to the European Parliament (electoral law, sections M 13 and onwards). Proxy Vote.
Mobile Polling Stations:
Yes
Special Needs
Provision First Time Voters:
Nationwide Campaign Encourages Dutch Youth to Vote: https://www.voanews.com/episode/nationwide-campaign-encourages-dutch-youth-vote-3745311
Provision Illiterate Voters:
Not allowed vote with assistance
Provision Blind Voters:
Elections Act (1989, last amended 2009). Section J4, subsection 2 states: The municipal executive shall ensure that at least 25% of the municipality’s polling stations are situated and equipped in such a way that voters with physical disabilities can cast their vote without assistance as far as possible. Section J28 states: If the electoral committee observes that a voter requires help because of his physical condition, it shall allow him to avail himself of assistance. Section L1 states: A voter who does not expect to be able to vote in person may vote by proxy…
Provision Deaf Voters:
Elections Act (1989, last amended 2009). Section J4, subsection 2 states: The municipal executive shall ensure that at least 25% of the municipality’s polling stations are situated and equipped in such a way that voters with physical disabilities can cast their vote without assistance as far as possible. Section J28 states: If the electoral committee observes that a voter requires help because of his physical condition, it shall allow him to avail himself of assistance. Section L1 states: A voter who does not expect to be able to vote in person may vote by proxy…
Provision Motor Handicap Voters:
Elections Act (1989, last amended 2009). Section J4, subsection 2 states: The municipal executive shall ensure that at least 25% of the municipality’s polling stations are situated and equipped in such a way that voters with physical disabilities can cast their vote without assistance as far as possible. Section J28 states: If the electoral committee observes that a voter requires help because of his physical condition, it shall allow him to avail himself of assistance. Section L1 states: A voter who does not expect to be able to vote in person may vote by proxy…
Targeted Initiatives
Recent Major Changes:
Repeal laws limiting the voting rights of people under guardianship
Failed Experiments:
From the late 1990s until 2007, voting machines were used extensively in elections. Most areas in the Netherlands used electronic voting in polling places. After security problems with the machines were widely publicized, they were banned in 2007.
Transparency Initiative:
observation of elections by independent observers contributes to the transparency