Local elections

Citizens of the European Union living in another Member State have the right to vote in municipal elections in their place of residence. They also have the right to run for office in the municipality where they live.

The competences of Belgian municipalities are broad. They make decisions with a direct impact on our daily life such as parking policy, waste, road construction, housing, squares and parks, schools, culture, sport, security and much more.

The following municipal elections will take place on October 14, 2012.

Who can vote? 

European citizens can vote as long as they satisfy the following criteria:

• They must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union
• They must be resident in a Belgian municipality.
• They must be 18 years or older.
• They must register to vote before July 31, 2012. Registration form.

More information Brussels-Capitale Region Portal and the IBZ

Important information

• By taking part in municipal elections in Belgium, you retain the right to vote in local, regional, national and European elections in your country of origin.
• If you register to vote, you will receive the notification to vote in your municipality. In the event that you are unable to vote yourself due to illness or travel abroad, you will be asked to inform the municipal administration. You will be able to grant power of attorney to someone else to vote on your behalf.
• Once registered, you do not have to repeat this formality. If subsequently you no longer wish to vote in Belgian municipal elections, it is easy to unregister.
• You have to register separately to vote in municipal elections and in European Parliament elections.
• Non-Europeans who have lived in Belgium for 5 years can also vote in local elections.