4 June 2009 - Voting For the European Parliament

From 4 June to 7 June, close to 375 million people from 27 European nations have the opportunity to vote for the European Parliament. On 4 June, the Netherlands will have its turn.

Voters will be choosing 27 elected officials from the Netherlands who will be representing you and will shape Europe’s future for the upcoming 5 years. Two factors to consider as important reasons to vote are the changes of the climate and the state of the economy. Out of nearly 16.5 million people who live in the Netherlands, only 47% of the eligible voters are expected to vote. This is an increase from 2004, when only 39% voted.

Who can vote? If you are registered and qualified to vote, you can vote either in your European Union (EU) home country or in the country you are currently living in. In the Netherlands, you must be a a Dutch national qualified to vote, a qualified Dutch national living in the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba, or a qualified Dutch national living elsewhere abroad. The Netherlands allows voting by mail.

For more information about the European Parliment elections, in English:
www.uheefthetvoorhetzeggen.nl
www.europarl.europa.eu