Elections 2024: What will change?

In 2024, 1 million young people will be able to vote for the first time. That is 10% of the total voting population.

• June 9, 2024
  • Flemish (regional elections)
  • Federal
  • European
• October 13, 2024
  • Municipal (+ Antwerp districts)
  • Provincial

As a teacher, you may also be working in the classroom around the elections. However, a number of things have changed since the previous elections, so it is time to update the learning resources.

What is new or different?

AGE

• From the age of 18 you have to go to the polling station for the federal and Flemish elections: this is called compulsory attendance.
• From the age of 18 you can go to the polling station for local elections: that is called voting rights.
• From the age of 16 you can go to the polling station for the European elections

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE vs. VOTING RIGHT

In Belgium, attendance is mandatory for the Flemish, federal and European elections and local elections in Brussels. This means that if you are at least 18 years old, you must go to the polling station with your registration letter and your identity card. You must enter a voting booth and then put your ballot in the mailbox.

New since 2021 is European voting rights for 16 and 17 year olds. They too can vote if they want to, or if they feel ready to do so. Originally, there was a registration obligation for young people who wanted to vote, but the Constitutional Court annulled this registration obligation in its judgment of July 20, 2023. On March 21, 2024, the Court suspended the provision in the law under which the voting obligation would only apply to those who is of age, and therefore not for 16 or 17 year olds. This means that compulsory attendance also applies to eligible voters aged 16 or 17.

We have had voting rights in Flanders for local elections since 2021. This means that you are not obliged to go to the polling station, but you are allowed to.

EUROPEAN UNION

The United Kingdom left the European Union on January 31, 2020.
There are currently 27 states that are members of the European Union.

Informative websites for support

• Elections: WHAT WHAT (information tailored to young people)  
• The organization of elections in Belgium on Vlaanderen.be (informational site vlaanderen.be)  
• IBZ Elections (fgov.be) (all information about federal, regional and European elections, as well as federal electoral legislation)  
• Vlaanderenkiest.be (all information about local and provincial elections)