Voting from abroad in municipal elections

Are you living or staying abroad temporarily? You can still vote in the municipal elections. However, you must still be officially resident in the Netherlands. 

Download form

Arrange online

Approach

This is how you issue a written power of attorney:

  • Download the form Request to vote by proxy.
  • Both you and the authorized representative sign the form.
  • Fill in the online form and upload the completed Request to vote by proxy.
  • Health that your municipality receives the form by Friday, March 13, 2026, at the latest.
  • The proxy will be sent to the proxy holder's home address.
  • The proxy votes with the power of attorney.

This is how you authorize someone through your voting card:

  • Fill in the information on the back of the voting card.
  • Put your signature.
  • The proxy also provides a signature. The proxy is the person who will vote on your behalf.
  • Give the proxy a copy of your ID. Your ID may be expired for a maximum of 5 years on the day of the election (March 18, 2026). The proxy may also show the copy on a smartphone or tablet. The copy must be clearly legible. 
  • The proxy takes your voting card and the copy of your ID to a polling station to vote.

Description

Are you living or staying abroad during the municipal elections? For example, because you are on vacation or studying? And are you still registered with a Dutch municipality? Then you can still vote in the municipal elections. You can do this by authorizing someone else to vote on your behalf. There are two ways to authorize someone:

  • with your voting pass
  • with a written proxy (you do not need your voting pass for this, but you must download a form)

Please note: for municipal elections, you can only authorize someone who is registered in the same municipality as yourself.  

Requirements

The person who will vote for you

  • may vote for up to 2 other people
  • must cast your vote at the same time as your own vote
  • Must show authorization(s) when voting
  • Must identify themselves when voting
  • must be registered in the same municipality as you 

More information

Information about making a secure copy of your identity document

Information about elections on Rijksoverheid.nl

Information about voting if you are temporarily abroad

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