Voting: the most powerful way to have your say!

Son güncelleme Çarşamba, 30/09/2020

What do you know about elections? Voting is the highest form of participation available for citizens in a democratic society and a right that should be used to the fullest.

In democratic societies, governments are formed through elections, where citizens can choose between several candidates or political parties. A vote is a formal expression of your support for a decision, a candidate or a party. Depending on your country, you can usually vote at municipal, regional, national and European level.

In most countries, the legal voting age is 18, but when the right to vote was first established this limit was 21. Throughout Europe, some young people are calling to lower the voting age. For instance, the European Youth Forum has launched a Europe-wide campaign to lower the voting age to 16, following the example of Austria. 

By voting in the local, national and European elections, you exercise your democratic right to take part in decisions on your future, but you also give the elected assemblies the legitimacy they need to perform their duties.

The European elections

The EU Parliamentary elections take place every five years and are the largest transnational elections in the world. Following the elections, the European Parliament votes to elect the new head of the European Commission, which is the EU's executive body, and approves the full team of Commissioners.

As young European citizens, no matter where you live and how you make your living or spend your time, the EU has an impact on your daily lives. In the context of the 2019 elections, Eurodesk has collected a set of pedagogic online resources to help you learn more about the way the EU works, what it does for its citizens and much more!

How voting works

Although there are some common rules regarding the EU elections, some aspects can vary from one country to another, such as whether it is possible to vote by mail or from abroad. Election days can also be different. The elections normally start on a Thursday (the day on which the Netherlands usually vote) and finish on a Sunday (when most countries hold their elections).

The number of members elected in each country depends on the size of the population, with smaller countries getting more seats than strict proportionality would imply. 

The latest elections, which took part in May 2019, saw a significant increase in turnout, which rose to an EU average of more than 50%.

Good ways to find out about the issues in the election include reading the candidates' programmes. Some candidates have their own social media pages where you can have your questions answered. For the next European elections taking place in 2024 you can also contact the European Parliament Liaison office that is closest to you.

If you're living abroad, you can still vote in your country’s national elections, while for the European Parliament elections, you can choose which country you want to vote for. Your EU voting rights also allow you to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal elections in the country where you live.

Next time you feel something is not right in society, why don’t you try voting?