News item | 21-11-2025 | 3:00 PM
Many people can vote independently without any problems, but that does not apply to everyone. Voters with, for example, an intellectual disability or dementia may have difficulty completing or reading the ballot paper. This also applies to voters who have low literacy. For these groups, voting is not self-evident, even though they would like to cast their vote. Minister Rijkaart of the Interior and Kingdom Relations has therefore submitted a bill that makes it possible for all voters to receive help at the voting booth.
Minister Rijkaart: “Voting is a right, not a privilege. It should never depend on someone’s disability or background whether that vote can be cast. This bill makes it possible for everyone to vote. The law must be in force during the elections for the Provincial Council and water boards in 2027, and I am working hard on that.”
Help at the polling booth for voters who need it
Currently, only voters with a physical disability can receive assistance at the polling booth. Other voters can be helped outside the voting booth, but not inside the booth itself. As a result, they sometimes cannot properly understand or complete the ballot paper.
The bill makes it possible that every voter who needs support can receive help at the voting booth. This assistance is provided by polling station members. They are trained to provide help as best as possible and in a neutral manner. This ensures the secrecy of voting and the freedom of voters to vote. Voters with a physical disability also retain the option to bring someone of their choice into the voting booth. The new law should not mean a regression for them.
Background and process
The Assistance at the Voting Booth bill is in line with the UN Convention on Disability and the wishes of various organizations, including the Institute for Human Rights. The Electoral Council has also previously recommended that assistance by a member of a polling station be made possible for voters with an intellectual disability. Initially, work was done on an experiment with assistance in the voting booth, but last year it was decided to immediately anchor the scheme nationally through a bill.
A careful balance between accessibility and freedom of voice
The Council of State has assessed the bill and looked at the balance between the accessibility of voting, voting secrecy and freedom of voting. Based on this advice, the minister has tightened the explanation of the law on various points. This provides a clearer explanation of why a distinction is made between voters with and without physical disabilities and why assistance by polling station members was chosen. In addition, it is explained how municipalities must register the provision of assistance, so that the operation of the scheme can be properly evaluated in the future.
Entry into force intended for the Provincial Council and water board elections in 2027
The bill is now being discussed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The aim is that assistance at the voting booth will be possible for everyone during the Provincial Council and water board elections in 2027.