Second Chamber Election 2023

Every four years, or sooner if the government collapses, Dutch nationals who are eligible to vote are able to choose who will represent them in the Second Chamber. Together with the Senate, the Second Chamber forms the Parliament of the Netherlands. The Second Chamber consists of 150 members. They represent the Dutch population, including you!

The main tasks of the Second Chamber are to monitor the government and to compile new legislation. The members thus make decisions concerning issues such as education, healthcare, environment, taxes, security, the economy, etc. By voting, you and the other voters can determine which parties are represented in the Second Chamber. This means you will have an influence on decision-making for the coming four years.

You can vote in the Second Chamber Election if you meet the following conditions:

• You are 18 years old or older;
• You have Dutch nationality;
• You have not had your voting rights revoked.

The public entity will use the Personal Records Database to determine whether people are eligible to vote. If you are in the database and meet the conditions mentioned above, you will automatically be sent a voting card for the election.

Would you like to check if you are registered to vote? This is possible via the Executive Council. If you are not registered to vote but think you have met all the conditions, you can submit a request to have your registration to vote reviewed. However, when doing so, you must provide proof that you meet all the conditions.

You can vote between 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, the 22nd of November at any polling station in your public entity.

Polling stations Bonaire

Polling station St. Eustatius

Polling stations Saba

You must bring the following with you:

• Your personal voting card
• Valid proof of identity

Have you not received a voting card? Or have you lost it? Then request a new voting card as soon as possible. The 17th of November is the latest date for submitting a written request for a replacement voting card. The 21st of November at 12 noon is the latest date for submitting a verbal request for a replacement voting card. This can be done at the Registry office of your public entity.

Valid proof of identity

A Dutch passport, I.D. card (sedula) or driving licence from your public entity are classed as valid proofs of identity. These documents should not have expired longer than 5 years ago (valid until the 23rd of November 2018) when casting your vote on the day of the election. If, prior to the election, you discover that your proof of identity expired more than 5 years ago, you can request new proof of identity from the Registry office. When doing so, consider the time it will take for your request to be processed. This means you should submit your request on time.

Click here for an example of the voting card.

Are you unable to cast your vote in person because, for example, you are ill or are on holiday abroad? Then you can ask someone else to vote on your behalf. This is called authorisation.

Important

• Voters can only authorise other people of their own volition. You cannot approach other voters to ask them to vote on their behalf. This is referred to as ‘recruitment of authorisations’ and is a punishable offence. The Elections Act (Kieswet) states that it is illegal to offer gifts or make other promises to voters in return for authorisation.
• You will thus be committing a punishable offence if you deliberately agree to such proposals.
• If someone pressurises you to issue authorisation, you should report this. If you are being forced, you will be classed as a victim and will not be punished.

Download the flyer 'I can't vote in person on the 22nd of November'

There are 2 ways of asking someone to vote on your behalf:

1. via your voting card (personal authorisation)
2. via an authorisation form (written authorisation)

You can personally decide who you authorise. The person who votes on your behalf (the authorised person) must:

• be eligible to vote;
• live on the same island as you;
• cast your vote at the same time as his or her own vote.

1. Authorising someone via your voting card

You can authorise someone via your voting card if, for example, you are ill on the day that you want to vote. 

This is how to authorise someone via your voting card:

• You must fill in the reverse side of your voting card. Do this together with the person who you will be authorising, so you know that you are definitely authorising the right person. 
• Give the authorised person your voting card and a copy of your proof of identity. This may also be a clearly legible photo of your proof of identity on a mobile phone or tablet. 
• The authorised person must show the copy of your proof of identity at the polling station. The authorised person must also show his or her own proof of identity. 
• The authorised person can only cast your vote at the same time as his or her own vote. An authorised person can only vote for maximum 2 other people.

2. Authorising someone via an authorisation form

You can also authorise another voter to vote on your behalf via an authorisation form. This is referred to as authorisation. 

You can do this by collecting a ‘requesting to vote by authorisation’ form from the Registry office. Or you can download the form from the website of the public entity. The form must have been received by the Registry office by Friday, the 17th of November.

You can use a written authorisation if, for example:

• you are not on the island on the day that you are eligible to vote. For instance, because you are on holiday or because you are working abroad;
• you are unable to supply a copy of your proof of identity. For instance, because your proof of identity expired more than 5 years ago and can no longer request a new proof of identification on time.

The person who votes on your behalf (the authorised person) must:

• be eligible to vote;
• cast your vote at the same time as his or her own vote.

This is how to authorise someone via an authorisation form:

• You must fill in the form together with the person who will be voting on your behalf (the authorised person). Before filling in the form yourself, have it filled in by the person that you would like to authorise. You will then know that you are authorising the right person. Both of you must sign the form.
• You must submit the form to the Registry office by the 17th of November.
• The authorised person will receive an authorisation document that can be used to vote on your behalf. The authorisation document can no longer be revoked once it has been approved by the Registry office.
• The authorised person must take the written authorisation document to the polling station. You do not have to supply a copy of your proof of identity. The authorised person can only cast your vote at the same time as his or her own vote.

Please note!

• Prevent your proof of identity being misused. Write on the copy version that it is only intended for use when casting your authorised vote, and ask for the copy to be returned once your vote has been cast.
• An authorised person may only vote for maximum 2 other people.
• Would you like to authorise someone but are unable to place your signature due to a disability? And does it say “unable to sign” on your identity document? Then you can authorise someone else to vote on your behalf without having to place a signature. In this case, you do not have to sign the written authorisation via your voting card. The public entity or polling station will check whether your identity document says ”unable to sign’’. If this is the case, someone else can vote for you.

You must show your voting card and proof of identity at the polling station. If everything is as it should be, you will receive a ballot and a red pencil. You must take them into the voting booth. You must colour in the circle next to the name of the person that you want to vote for. 

Fold the ballot so that no one can see your choice. You must then place the ballot into the ballot box.

Your vote is confidential. The voting booths at the polling station have been set up so that no one can see who you have voted for. It is forbidden for more than one person to enter the voting booth at the same time. Only people with a physical disability are entitled to assistance in the voting booth.

If you want to exercise your right to vote, but do not want to choose a candidate, you can cast a blank vote. You must then go to the polling station but not select a candidate.

You can cast a blank vote by colouring none of the circles, and not writing or drawing anything else on the ballot. Your ballot will thus be completely empty.

Your blank vote will only be symbolic and will not have an impact on the distribution of seats. Blank votes or votes that are not cast will not go to the largest party. However, blank votes will be counted when determining the turnout for the election.

You can select one candidate on the ballot by colouring in the corresponding circle. Your ballot will be invalid if you colour multiple circles, or draw or write something on the ballot that reveals your identity. In this case, your vote will only count when determining the turnout.

If you have accidentally invalidated your ballot or have made a mistake, you have 1 opportunity to request a new ballot from an official at the polling station.

Your vote is confidential. You do not have to tell anyone for which individual or party you voted. People who force you to do so are committing a punishable offence. If you feel pressurised, you can submit an official complaint.

Are you unable to autonomously cast your vote because of a physical disability? Then you can request assistance in the voting booth. For example, if you have impaired vision or are blind, or if you have Parkinson's disease. You can bring someone along to help you or ask for help from an official at the polling station.