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Elections FAQ

FAQ Elections for Belgians abroad

1. What are these elections for ?
Voters living outside Belgium take part in the Belgian Federal Legislative Elections and are automatically also voters for the election of the European Parliament.

In 2019, the Belgian Federal Legislative elections and the elections for the European Parliament will take place on the same day.

2. What day is the day of voting?

The date on which Belgians living abroad must vote depends on the voting method they have chosen:

  • Belgians who have chosen to vote in person in Belgium must vote on Sunday May 26, 2019 between 8 am and 3 pm - Belgian time - in the relevant Belgian electoral municipality. They will receive a convocation letter for this.
  • Belgians who have chosen to vote in Belgium by proxy do not have to vote themselves, but are replaced by their proxy holder. The proxy holder will receive his/her personal  convocation letter and an excerpt of the proxy directly from the relevant municipality and must present these documents and proof of identity on Sunday May 26, 2019 between 8 am and 3 pm - Belgian time - at the relevant electoral municipality.
  • Belgians who have chosen to vote in person at the Consulate General (= the Embassy in Canberra) and proxy holders to vote at the Consulate General (= the Embassy in Canberra), must do so on Wednesday May 22, 2019 between 1 pm and 9 pm - local time. The proxy holder will receive his/her personal convocation letter and an excerpt of the proxy directly from the relevant municipality and must present these documents and proof of identity when voting.

3. Do I have to vote if I have the double nationality ?

All Belgians (and bi-nationals) registered in the consular population registers who meet the following electoral conditions are subject to the voting obligation:

  • Be a Belgian national on the date on which the electoral roll is closed (80 days before the election day in Belgium);
  • Having reached the full age of 18 on the date of the election day in Belgium;
  • Be registered in the population registers of the Consulate General  (= the Embassy in Canberra) on the date on which the registration is finalized;
  • Not to be deprived of the right to vote on the date of the election day in Belgium (=May 26, 2019).

4. On which legal base ?

Federal Legislative Elections: the electoral code - Title IVbis - last amended by the Act of November 17, 2016 (published in B.S.on 20/12/2016)

European Parliament: Law of 23 March 1989, last amended by the Law of 17 November 2016 (published in B.S.on 20/12/2016).

5. Who can I vote for ?

  • General information on political parties and candidates can be found online, including through the following websites:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/at-your-service/en/be-heard/elections

www.nationsencyclopedia.com >Europe >Belgium

https://www.belgium.be/nl/over_belgie/overheid/democratie/politiek or https://www.belgium.be/fr/la_belgique/pouvoirs_publics/democratie/partis...

6. Why do I receive the forms in French, Dutch and German and not in English ?

Belgium has three official languages : Dutch, French and German. All correspondence with the official authorities must be held in one of these languages.

7. Should I seek further information on the elections from the Honorary Consul of Belgium or via Facebook ?

No, however you can obtain more information on the following website:
http://diplomatie.belgium.be or by contacting the Consulate General (= the Embassy in Canberra): canberra@diplobel.fed.be

8. What should I do with the forms I recently received by post?

  • These are registration forms only. Depending on your choice of voting method, you will receive an envelope with the ballot paper at a later date.
  • Read the instructions carefully and verify the information already entered on the form. Enter only the missing fields. Correct all erroneous data. Sign and date the form before sending it back to the Consulate General

9. To which electoral municipality am I attached as a voter ?
In the following order:

1. To the Belgian municipality where you were once registered in the population registers;

2. As default, to the Belgian municipality where you were born;

3. As default, to the Belgian municipality where one of your parents is or was last registered;

4. As default, to the Belgian municipality where your spouse, your former spouse or partner (registered partnership) is or was last registered;

5. As default, to the Belgian municipality where a relative to the third degree is or was registered, or a relative in the ascending line is or was registered;

6. If all other criteria do not apply, to the municipality of Brussels.

10. What are the methods for voting?
Voters must choose one of the following options:

1. By proxy in Belgium;

2. In person in Belgium;

3. In person at the Consulate General of Belgium (= the Embassy in Canberra);

4. By proxy at the Consulate General of Belgium (= the Embassy in Canberra);

5. By correspondence.

10.a)  I wish to vote BY PROXY (in Canberra or in Belgium), what do I do ?

Please note a proxy holder can only hold one power of attorney (proxy). In addition, the proxy holder themselves must also be registered to vote in the Belgian Federal Legislative elections and they must be registered in the same electoral municipality as the proxy grantee.

You fill out the form (included in the package with your registration papers) titled VOLMACHTFORMULIER/FORMULAIRE DE PROCURATION/VOLLMACHTFORMULAR, according to the administrative language of your electoral municipality, and return the form to the Consulate General (= the Embassy in Canberra);

Please bear in mind that the person to whom you give power of attorney must present themselves in person either at the voting bureau in Canberra, or at the municipality in Belgium on the day of the elections !

10.b) I wish to vote IN PERSON at the Consulate General (= the Embassy in Canberra), what do I do?

You have to appear in person at the Consulate General (= the Embassy in Canberra). The election bureau will be open Wednesday 22 May 2019 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time.

10.c) I wish to vote BY CORRESPONDENCE, what do I do ?

At a later date, you will receive, at the address indicated on the registration form, an electoral folder with a ballot paper, a return certificate, an identification form and an explanatory note. These documents will be sent to you from Belgium by ordinary mail, as required by law. They will be sent at the earliest on the 24th day before the day of the elections in Belgium. They must be completed and returned by you to Belgium. They must be received in Belgium before the closing of the polling stations (on 26 May 2019) at the latest.

The deadlines for this voting method are very short; it is therefore important that you check whether the postal connections between your country of residence and Belgium are sufficient to ensure the timely return of your ballot. If the answer to this question is uncertain, choose another method of voting!