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It’s municipal election time in the Netherlands.  Many of you living here are eligible to vote in the Dutch gemeenteraadsverkiezingen. On top of this, more and more parties are producing their election literature in English. Wondering how to cast your vote for the Dutch gemeenteraadsverkiezingen? Wonder no more. Here’s the Turning Dutch guide to voting.

What and Where: How to Cast your Vote for the Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen

If you have no stempas (voting card) you cannot vote – it’s that simple. Game over. Go about your day as usual. If you have received a stempas read on.

• Take your stempas (voting card) and ID with you to your local stembureau. That’s a passport, ID card or rijbewijs (driving licence). This is important. No ID, no vote.
• Your nearest polling station is indicated on your stempas, but you may choose another so long as it is in your gemeente.
• The stembureaus are open from 7.30 am to 9.00pm. There are some exceptions.

Good to Know

• If you are ill you can give permission for someone to vote on your behalf. See your stempas for details. You need to supply a copy of your ID so make sure you allocate your vote to someone you know. Do not nominate any old stranger that happens to be wandering past your house.

The Practicalities of the Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen Voting Process

• When you enter the stembureau there is a row of tables with people sitting behind them. In my stembureau they are always friendly and helpful. Hopefully they are in yours too and they will guide you through the process if you need assistance. Just ask.
• An official checks your ID against your stempas.
• If the official is satisfied you are who you say you are you will be handed two pieces of paper (by the official sitting next to him or her).
• Take those two pieces of paper to the stemhokje. Unfold the papers.
• Where I now live the ballot paper is small and can be unfolded easily within the confines of the stemhokje. Where I used to live the ballot paper was about 5 meters wide and extremely unhandy. The size of the ballot paper is related to the number of parties and candidates within those parties taking part in the gemeenteraadsverkiezingen. If you find the size of the paper unmanageable then make sure you move to a different gementee by the time the next elections come around.
• Using either the red pencil provided (attached to a chain and not to be taken home with you) or one you brought with you (it must be red), colour in the circle of the candidate you wish to vote for.
• Place the ballot paper for the gemeenteraadsverkiezingen in the blue box (looks like the dustbin you put out on the street for collection only it has a hole in the top). Tip: Make sure it is the ballot box and not actually a rubbish bin.
• Wish everyone a fijne dag and leave.
• Carry on about the rest of your day as normal.

Handy to Know About the Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen Voting Process

• Note you are not allowed to take anyone else into the stemhokje with you. This includes babies and toddlers (without permission), children, elderly parents or waifs and strays. It’s not meant to be a social event or ‘gezellig‘. Get in, get the job done and get out. There are some exceptions if physical restrictions mean you need assistance.
• You may take as long as you need to cast your vote. Within reason. If you get your camping gear or a three course meal out, then you may be escorted out of the stembureau.
• You may be intoxicated when you vote but you may not be a nuisance. You should note that officials will escort nuisances out of the stembureau. Officials will also help sober nuisances on their way.
• Nobody may influence your vote whilst you are casting it. Therefore, nobody should be looking over your shoulder or bribing you with stroopwafels to choose a certain candidate.
• The stemhokje must be open and visible – i.e it may not be closed off. In addition, it must also be a certain size. If you want to measure it to make sure it meets requirements then feel free.
• If it floats your boat you may take a stemfie – that’s a photo of your ballot paper with you hovering over it. Het mag. Hoeft niet.
• If you mess up and colour in the wrong circle let one of the officials know and they will provide you with a new ballot paper. Mess up again and it’s tough luck. In short, there are no third chances in Dutch politics.

The post How to Cast Your Vote for the Dutch Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen appeared first on Turning Dutch.