Are you an EU-citizen over 18 living in Doetinchem and have you been living in the Netherlands for five years or more? Then you are eligible to vote in the local elections of March 21st 2018.
How and when can you vote?You don’t have to register as a voter in the Netherlands. When you are living here, you’re required to register as a resident within your municipality (gemeente). You have done so when you moved to the Netherlands. When you are registered as a resident in the Netherlands, you will automatically receive a so-called ‘voting pass’ (stempas) at your home, no less than two weeks before the elections on March 21st. You can go to any polling place within your municipality with that voting pass and a valid photo-ID – a passport, a European ID card or a Dutch driver’s licence – and vote. Voting is not a very time-consuming process in the Netherlands. Most often, you’re in and out of the polling place in less than ten minutes. You can always ask for instructions on the voting process form the volunteers at your polling place. There are polling places at the City Hall (stadhuis), and at many locations within your municipality. For a complete list of all polling places, see this website. You can cast your ballot at all polling places within the municipality where you live, not in other municipalities.
Why should you vote?Municipalities are responsible for many aspects of public life. They finance the construction and renovation of schools, they plan and maintain all public spaces like parks and roads, they subsidize many organizations in fields like sports and culture, they provide affordable housing and they are responsible for most aspects of youth- and healthcare. Municipalities also collect their own taxes – like property taxes and parking- and waste charges – and set their own tax rates. Because local government influences daily life of residents greatly, expats are eligible to vote in local elections.
What are the key issues?In Doetinchem the most important issues of the election are: (1) a healthy economy with job opportunities, (2) Independent and affordable houses and (3) education. You can find our flyer in English here. D66 is a social liberal party with a strong love for democracy. We urge every inhabitant to cast their vote. And if that vote would be for D66 Doetinchem, we would be grateful.