While registration for non-nationals to register to vote is still open, voters can since 20 March also apply to submit their ballot by post. Photo: Mike Zenari

While registration for non-nationals to register to vote is still open, voters can since 20 March also apply to submit their ballot by post. Photo: Mike Zenari

Voters in the local elections this year from Monday can register to vote by post if they anticipate being outside of the country on 11 June.

Voting in the grand duchy is mandatory for Luxembourg nationals but also for non-nationals who have registered to vote. Exemptions apply for last-minute personal or professional business meaning voters cannot be in the country on election day.

Anyone who knows they will be away in June or doesn’t want to be caught out from 20 March can . For people living in Luxembourg, the deadline closes on 17 May. People living outside of Luxembourg but who want to vote in their commune, for example students studying abroad, must apply for their postal vote by 2 May.

The deadline for non-nationals to register to vote in the first place is 17 April.

According to the last official numbers, only 12.5% of foreigners have registered to vote in the local elections. Registration is or can be done in person at the commune’s town hall.

For the first time this election, there is no minimum residency requirement for non-nationals to register to vote. As soon as foreigners arrive in the country, they can sign up to vote. Anyone moving between communes will automatically have their registration transferred.

At the end of February, the latest data available, more than 224,000 eligible foreigners had yet to sign up to vote.

People who registered for a previous local election remain on the voter list but any foreigner who gained nationality since then is removed. So far, 32,197 non-nationals have signed up to vote in their commune. This is near the 34,638 voters who registered in the last local election in 2017.

Timeline

17 April at 5pm: Deadline for non-nationals to register to vote

18 April: Deadline for parties to publish candidate lists

20 March to 2 May: Postal vote request open for voters outside of Luxembourg (e.g. students)

20 March to 17 May: Postal vote request open for voters in the country.

6 June: Deadline to mail postal ballots

11 June: Local election

1 September: Deadline for new town councils and colleges of aldermen to be sworn in