France was able to organize its last parliamentary elections in three weeks, Ireland in three and a half weeks. But the Netherlands is expected to go to the polls only on 29 October, more than four and a half months after the cabinet trap. The outgoing cabinet wants to make a decision about this this Friday. Why does that take so long? Five questions about the organization of the elections.
1Who determines the election date?
If new parliamentary elections are organized after a cabinet trap, the outgoing cabinet will decide on the date. In addition, the advice that the Electoral Council issues on this is almost always based on this on the basis of the law and practical feasibility. Now the Elections Council recommends holding the elections on Wednesday on October 29.
Elections are almost always on Wednesday in the Netherlands. To make as many people as possible vote, the religious days of Friday (Islam), Saturday (Judaism) and Sunday (Christianity) fall off. Monday will fall because the preparations would then fall at the weekend. An advantage of Wednesday is that many primary schools, which often house a polling, have half a day of classes.
2Is the Netherlands really so slow compared to abroad?
“I would not use the word slow,” says Henk van der Kolk, special appointment of electoral politics at the University of Amsterdam. “That seems as if we are doing something wrong. But it is indeed relatively very long with us. We are exceptionally careful and precise.” Van der Kolk published an investigation into this in December, commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior.
That France and Ireland can organize their elections in a few weeks is exceptionally fast. But other European countries are often faster and their interim elections often organize within two or three months after the cabinet trap. In the Netherlands it always takes three to four and a half months, Van der Kolk writes in his research.
3Why does it take so long here?
Speed is secondary to other interests in the Netherlands. New political parties are given a chance to register, where they would be too late in other countries after a cabinet trap. According to the Elections Act, new parties must be able to report up to 86 days before the elections at the latest. With that you are almost at three months.
A lot of effort is also made for those entitled to vote abroad. They must receive their voting pass and return envelope according to the law at the latest 84 days before the elections. That is different from in Germany, where these types of installments are halved in interim elections because of the speed. Van der Kolk: “That may mean that fewer voters can cast their vote abroad. But that is accepted there, based on the idea that the effects on the result will be minimal.”
The Netherlands also takes holidays into account. The Electoral Council considered Wednesday 8 October as an election date. But then the parties should hand in their candidate lists during the summer holidays and the first meeting of the Lower House would be during the autumn holidays. Wednesday 15 and 22 October also fell due to the autumn holidays: the turnout can then be lower and there are fewer volunteers for the polling stations.
4Could it be able to and should it be faster?
It is possible. And at least there should be a political debate about it, says Van der Kolk. Where care and feasibility are weighed against the need to quickly have a new government. “That is a political assessment.”
For example, if more speed and foreign voters are chosen, for example, have less time for casting their votes, it can influence the final result. And even though that effect will usually be small, it can still lead to discussion, says Van der Kolk. “What if a new coalition is just short of one seat? Will everyone shout murder and fire that foreign voters are not heard enough? You have to think about whether you want this.”
According to Van der Kolk, the problem is that this discussion is constantly flaring up after a cabinet falls. “But as soon as the new cabinet is there, we forgot it.” The House of Representatives could call Minister Judith Uitermark, NSC (Interior, NSC) to take a serious look at this, suggests the professor. “Then you already start something.”
5What is involved in the organization and what does it cost?
As soon as the date has been chosen for elections, preparations start at town halls. Municipalities organize all Dutch elections. To ensure that this runs smoothly, much is needed, according to research by consultancy firm Anderson Elffers Felix last year.
Voting stations must be found. Voting booths with red pencils, ballot papers and clickos are prepared. Municipalities buy office supplies for the volunteers, rent vans to drive the ballot boxes to a central place, and often buy thank you for the people who populate the desks. Security guards are hired, IT systems are set up and flyers printed.
The costs, according to the researchers: on average around 7.01 euros per resident entitled to vote. In the Lower House elections of 2023, AEF estimated the total costs at 93 million euros. The municipalities themselves pay that.
When they are ready this fall, they can immediately start again: in March 2026 the municipal elections are.
With the cooperation of Mark Lievisse Adriaanse