Elections European Parliament 2024

In the European Parliament, decisions are made about important subjects such as tourism, climate change and safety. Once every 5 years the Dutch members of the European Parliament are elected. By voting, you will help to decide who acts in terms of our Kingdom’s interests.

You are eligible to vote in the European Parliament elections if you meet the following conditions:

• You are 18 or older;
• You have Dutch nationality;
• You are not excluded from the right to vote.

The Public Entity determines voting rights based on the Personal Information Service of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (PIVA). If you are included and meet the requirements above, then you will automatically receive your voting pass for the election.

If you would like to check whether you are registered as a voter, you can do so at the Executive Council. If you are not registered as a voter but you think you meet all the conditions, then you can submit a request for your voter registration to be reviewed. You must provide proof that you meet all the conditions.

You can vote on Thursday, the 6^th of June 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at any polling station in your Public Entity.

Polling stations Bonaire

• Jong Bonaire, Kaya Libertador Simon Bolivar 16
• Sentro di Bario Tera Cora, Kaya Monseigneur Niewindt
• Sentro di Bario Nikiboko, Kaya Pos di Amor 44
• Kompleho Deportivo J. Nicolaas, Kaya Amsterdam
• Tia Sani, Kaya Encarnacion B. Sint Jago 10

Polling stations St. Eustatius

• The Ernest van Putten Youth Center (The Lions Den), Concordia Road 24  
• The Earl Merkman Sports Complex, Sandy Road                                             

Polling stations Saba

• Eugenius Johnson Center, The Fort Road no. 13 Windwardside

Please bring your:

• personal voting pass;
• valid identification document.

If you have not received a voting pass or you have lost it, then apply for a new voting pass as soon as possible. You can request a replacement voting pass using a form no later than Monday, the 3^rd of June. You can verbally request a replacement voting pass no later than Wednesday, the 5^th of June, 12 noon. This can be done at the Civil Affairs department of the Public Entity.

Valid identification document

A valid identification document is:

• a Dutch passport;
• an identity card issued by the Public Entity (sédula);
• a driving licence issued by the Public Entity.

The validity of these documents may not have expired more than five years ago at the time of voting on election day (valid until 7^th of June 2019). If you realise before the election that your ID expired more than five years ago, you can apply for a new ID at the Civil Affairs. Please take the processing time of your application into account. Do this on time.

If you are unable to vote, for example, because you are ill or abroad, then you can ask someone else to vote for you. This is called voting by proxy.

There are two ways that you can ask someone to vote for you:

1. Using your voting pass (private proxy);
2. With an authorisation form (written authorisation).

You can choose who you authorise. The person who votes on your behalf (the authorised representative) must:

• be eligible to vote;
• be living on the same island as you;
• cast your vote at the same time as their own vote.

1. Authorise someone on your voting pass

You can authorise someone on your voting pass, for example, if you are ill on the day you want to vote.

Authorising someone on your voting pass works like this:

• You fill in the back of your voting pass. Do this together with the person you want to authorise to ensure you authorise the right person.
• Give the authorised representative your voting pass and a copy of your ID. This may also be an easily readable photo of your ID on a mobile phone or tablet.
• The authorised representative shows the copy of your ID at the polling station. The authorised representative must also show their own ID.
• The authorised representative can only cast your vote at the same time as their own vote. An authorised representative can vote for a maximum of two other persons.

2. Authorising someone using an authorisation form (written authorisation)

You can also authorise another voter to vote for you using an authorisation form. This is called written authorisation.

You can pick up a ‘request to vote by proxy’ form from the Civil Affairs or download it from the Public Entity’s website. The Civil Affairs must receive the form by Monday, June 3^rd.

You can use a written authorisation, for example, if:

• You are not on the island on the day you can vote. For example, because you are on holiday or because you are abroad for work;
• You cannot provide a copy of your ID. For example, because your ID expired more than five years ago, and you can no longer apply for a new ID in time.

The person who votes for you (the authorised representative) must:

• be eligible to vote;
• cast your vote at the same time as their own vote.

Authorising someone with an authorisation form works like this:

• You and the person who will vote on your behalf (the authorised representative) complete the form. First have the person you want to authorise complete the form before you do it yourself, so you are sure that you are authorising the right person. You both sign the form.
• You must submit the form to the Civil Affairs no later than Monday, June 3^rd.
• The authorised representative will receive a proxy certificate, which they can use to vote on your behalf. Once the Civil Affairs has approved the proxy certificate, the proxy certificate can no longer be withdrawn.
• The authorised representative takes the written proxy certificate to the polling station. You do not need to give them a copy of your ID. The representative can only cast your vote at the same time as your own vote.

Important

• A voter may only authorise someone else of their own accord. You may not approach other voters asking to vote on their behalf. This is also called proxy solicitation and is a criminal offence. The Electoral Act also prohibits bribing voters to issue a proxy in exchange for a gift or promise.
• If you intentionally allow yourself to be bribed, you may be prosecuted.
• If you are being pressured by someone to issue a proxy, then report this. If you are forced, you are a victim and cannot be prosecuted.

N.B.

• Prevent misuse of your ID. Write on the copy that it is only intended for use when casting your proxy vote and ask for the copy back after voting.
• The person who casts your vote must live on the same island as you.
• A representative may vote for a maximum of two other persons.
• If you want to authorise someone, but you have a disability that prevents you from signing, and your identity document says, ‘unable to sign’, then you can authorise someone to vote for you without a signature. You do not have to sign the written authorisation or the authorisation on your voting pass. The Public Entity or the polling station checks whether the ‘unable to sign’ designation is also included on your identity document. If so, someone else can vote on your behalf.

At the polling station, you show your voting pass and ID. If everything is in order, you will receive a ballot paper and a red pencil. You take these with you to the voting booth. You colour in the circle in red next to the name of the person you want to vote for.

Fold the ballot paper so that no one can see your vote. Then, put the ballot paper in the ballot box.

The vote is secret. The polling station’s voting booths are positioned so that no one can see who you are voting for. It is forbidden to enter the voting booth with other people. Only people with a physical disability may be assisted in the voting booth.

If you do not want to choose a candidate but do want to exercise your right to vote, then you can cast a blank vote. You then go to the polling station but do not choose a candidate.

You cast a blank vote by not colouring any circle red and not drawing or writing anything on the ballot. The ballot paper therefore remains completely blank.

Your blank vote merely has a symbolic meaning and does not affect the distribution of seats. Therefore, a blank vote or an uncast vote does not go to the largest party. A blank vote does count for election turnout.

You can choose one candidate on the ballot paper by colouring in the corresponding circle in red. If you colour in multiple circles, your vote will be invalid. If you draw or write anything on the ballot that means someone might know who you are, your vote is also invalid. Your vote will then only count towards the calculation of the turnout.

If you accidentally invalidate your ballot or make a mistake, you may request a new ballot once from the polling station members.

The vote is secret. You do not have to reveal to anyone who or which party you voted for. People who force you to do this can be prosecuted. If you feel pressured, you can report this.

If you are unable to vote independently due to a physical disability, then you can be assisted at the voting booth. For example, if you are visually impaired, blind or have Parkinson’s disease. You can bring someone with you to help or ask a polling station member for help.