Billboards in Luxembourg City's rose garden show political party posters ahead of the European elections in Luxembourg on 26 May 2019 Jess Bauldry

Billboards in Luxembourg City's rose garden show political party posters ahead of the European elections in Luxembourg on 26 May 2019 Jess Bauldry

Electronic voting

The only country in which electronic voting is permitted for residents living abroad is Estonia. Meanwhile, you cannot vote by post for European candidates in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Malta or Slovakia.

Minimum age

The minimum age for a candidate to stand in the European elections varies between member state. In the majority of countries, it is 18 but in Greece and Italy it is 25. In Romania it is 23. The minimum age to vote is 18 in all member states, except Greece, where the voting age is 17, and Austria and Malta, where it is 16.

Compulsory voting

It is compulsory to vote in the European elections if you’re a citizen of one of five countries, including Luxembourg, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Cyprus. That said, no country has a 100% voter turnout.

Voter turnout

Voter turnout is dwindling in all member states but none have seen it fall as far as Slovakia, where just 13% of the population turned up to vote at the last European elections in 2014 .

Voting spread over four days

Member states can organise their European elections on any day from 23-26 May. The first voters will go to the polls in the Netherlands and UK on 23 May. Ireland votes on 24 May while Latvia, Malta and Slovakia cast their votes on 25 May.

MEPs

751 MEPs will be elected in the 28 member states, a number that falls to 705 once Britain leaves the EU. Some 27 seats will be redistributed, with France and Spain gaining five, each.

Luxembourg MEPs

Luxembourg has six MEPs. Luxembourg’s longest-standing MEP is Astrid Lulling (CSV), who served from 1989-2009. Luxembourg has meanwhile provided 13 commissioners, of which three served as president--Gaston Thorn (DP), Jacques Santer (CSV) and Jean-Claude Juncker (CSV). Two Luxembourgers held the title of commissioner for three commissions: Albert Borschette and Viviane Reding. The latter is credited with doing away with roaming charges during her time as justice commissioner.

Click here for more facts and figures about the European Parliament elections.