10,239 Belgians in the United Kingdom will be able to vote in the European elections

Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders welcomes the news that 10,239 citizens residing in the United Kingdom (UK) will also be able to vote for Belgian lists in the European elections of May 26. It concerns the 10,239 Belgians in the United Kingdom who were registered before February 1 to vote in the federal elections.

The Commission for Home Affairs of the Chamber of Representatives just approved an amendment to the BREXIT law concerning the elections of the European Parliament.

If the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, it will not organise European elections. Thanks to the amended law, Belgians in the United Kingdom will therefore be considered as residing outside of the EU, with the right to vote.

As with federal elections, they will be able to vote in 5 different manners for the European elections:

1. By post
2. In person, at the Belgian embassy in London
3. By proxy, at the Belgian embassy in London
4. In person in Belgium
5. By proxy in Belgium

According to the law of March 23, 1989 regarding the elections of the European Parliament, there are two distinct regimes for Belgian voters residing abroad who are registered on the consular registers. Belgians residing in an EU Member State can chose to vote in their country of residence or in our country. Belgians residing outside of the European Union can only vote on Belgian lists for the European Parliament.

Now that the law has been amended, all Belgians who were registered before February 1 on consular registers will be treated the same way.