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The NetherlandsWhich voting system is used?Semi-open list system
Voters cast their vote for a specific candidate within one of the party lists.
Allocation of seats to parties: The total number of valid votes cast across the whole country is divided by the number of seats to be allocated (31) this produces the electoral quota (Hare). The number of votes cast for each list is divided by the electoral quota and the quotient determines the number of seats initially allocated to that list.
After the first round of allocations, some seats usually remain to be filled. These are allocated using the d'Hondt method (the number of votes cast for each party is divided by one more than the number of seats already allocated to it); the averages thus calculated are ranked in descending order and the remaining seats are allocated to the parties accordingly. In elections to the European Parliament, only parties which have attained the electoral quota may take part in the process.
Allocation of seats to candidates: Once the seats have been allocated to the parties, it is time to decide which candidates have been elected. Votes cast for individual candidates are called personal votes. Candidates who receive a set minimum number of personal votes are automatically elected unless the group for which they are standing has been allocated too few seats or none at all. The minimum number in elections to the European Parliament is 10% of the electoral quota. The remaining seats allocated to the relevant lists are then allocated to the candidates in the order in which their names appear on the list.
How do voters mark their ballot paper(s)?Voters are given a ballot paper which shows the party lists. On the ballot a black square with a white circle is placed next to each candidate on the list. The voter must fill in the circle next to one of the candidates with a red pencil. Voters are not given the opportunity to simply cast a vote for the party list.
Most municipalities now use voting machines. The decision to use voting machines in elections is taken by the council of the municipality concerned. Only voting machines approved by the Minister of the Interior may be used. The machines display a ballot paper, and voters press a button next to the name of their preferred candidate.
Have there been any changes to the voting system since 1980?No
How many seats are there altogether?27
How many constituencies are there, and how many seats within each constituency?One, the whole country.
Is any kind of electoral formula used?Hare and d'Hondt
Is an artificial threshold used?No (the built-in threshold is one electoral quota).
How are vacancies filled?The next person on a list
How are vacancies filled?The next person on a list
Is voting compulsory?No
What is the minimum voting age?18
All Dutch nationals who are aged 18 or over on polling day are entitled to vote in elections. Since 1994, people resident in the Netherlands and possessing the nationality of any other Member State of the European Union, have been entitled to vote in Dutch elections to the European Parliament. To do this, they may not take part in the European elections in their own countries.
What is the minimum age of candidature?18
All Dutch nationals aged over 18 or over have the right to stand for election. Non-Dutch nationals possessing the nationality of any other Member State of the European Union are entitled to stand for election in Dutch elections to the European Parliament, provided they do not stand for election elsewhere.
Are the election terms fixed?Yes. Five-year terms.
Does voting take place on a specific day of the week?Thursdays
(though counting is postponed until Sunday, in order to co-ordinate with the rest of the European Union)
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