Elections for the European Parliament are coming up across Europe between June 6 and 9, 2024. In the Netherlands, any European citizen can head to the polls on June 6 — but how, and why should you?
As Euronews explains, the European elections take place every five years, giving the 447 million European citizens a chance to vote for the 705 members who will represent them in the European Parliament.
The number of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) elected depends on the country. In the Netherlands, voters will elect 31 MEPs.
What does the European Parliament do?
The European Parliament is part of the law-making process within the EU, meaning it must approve most proposed laws before they become law. It is the only directly elected institution of the European Union.
Who can vote?
To participate in the European elections, you must fulfil the following criteria:
- You’re at least 18 years old on election day;
- You’re a national of any EU country;
- You’re registered to vote;
- You’re not disqualified from voting.
Anyone who holds Dutch citizenship or is registered to vote as a non-Dutch EU citizen will have received a voting pass at their home address by now.
Note: If you’re an EU national living in the Netherlands and wish to vote, you had to register for it before Thursday, 23 April 2024. It is no longer possible to register to vote.
How can I vote?
If you are registered to vote — whether as a Dutch or non-Dutch EU citizen — you will head to the polls tomorrow, June 6, 2024.
Where you can vote depends on your municipality. Polling stations will be set up in places such as schools, museums, train stations, and churches.
Check out this map to find a stembureau (voting station) close to you. The polling station closest to your house should also be indicated on the front of your voting pass.
When you head out to vote, make sure to double-check that you have your voting pass and a form of identification on you. Happy voting!
Why does it matter?
Not sure why exactly you should participate in the elections? Let me tell you.
Your vote will decide which Members of the European Parliament will represent you in preparing new laws and will influence the election of the European Commission.
Essentially, voting for the European Parliament gives us a chance to collectively decide on the future of the European Union — addressing topics from the environment to consumer rights to the economy. 💪
Will you participate in the European elections tomorrow? Share your thoughts in the comments!
