Is voting really compulsory in Belgium?
According to article 62 of the Belgian Constitution, “voting is compulsory and secret“. In Belgium, each citizen aged at least 18 years old and registered in a Belgian municipality is therefore automatically registered in the list of voters for the various ballots. Each citizen has the right to vote but also the obligation to vote in Belgium .
An electoral invitation to go to the polling station assigned to you is sent to each voter at their postal address. This invitation to compulsory voting must be sent at least 15 days before election day.
If you have not received it, it is possible to obtain a duplicate from your municipality upon request one week before the election.
It is therefore obligatory for voters to go to the polling station with their identity card in order to validate their vote.
How can I express my dissatisfaction if I am forced to vote?
Blank voting or invalid voting can be a way of expressing dissatisfaction. To do this, for example, simply do not fill out your ballot (in electronic version, a “blank vote” version is possible).
What are the fines for not voting?
If the citizen takes the risk of not voting and therefore not going to the polling station to fill out their ballot, several sanctions are provided for by law, although they are not systematically applied.
A justice of the peace will judge the reasons why the citizen did not vote. If they are unfounded, the latter will be sent to the police court, which will have to make a non-appealable decision.
If this is the first time that the person does not vote, they risk a reprimand or a fine of 40 to 80 euros. But, in the event of a repeat offense, the fine for non-voting can rise up to 200 euros.
If the citizen accumulates 4 unjustified absences (without a valid reason for absence/excuse) in less than 15 years, he or she will be removed from the list of voters for ten years.
Please note: if you have been designated as an assessor, the fines are (much) higher and you are exposed to legal proceedings. It is essential to go to the site or have a good reason – justified in advance according to the planned process.
How can I make a power of attorney?
If you cannot go to vote on D-day for geographical, professional or health reasons, you can make a proxy to someone you trust. This way you are legally in order. The process is quite simple: all the information is here. A Belgian voter can only hold one proxy. You will need to fill out a form which you will give to them. Then, your proxy must first vote in their own polling station, with their own invitation, then vote for you in your polling station, with the proxy form.
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