News item | 15-09-2023 | 08:28
The House of Representatives election is on Wednesday, November 22. Municipalities are expected to need 50,000 volunteers to staff the polling stations during this election. To help municipalities recruit sufficient polling station members and vote counters, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is launching a campaign today through regional media. People who want to participate in the upcoming election can register with their municipality.
Volunteers at polling stations are invaluable. This also became apparent during the provincial council and water board elections last March 15. The workload was high at that time and counting took place until late in the evening. Municipalities and the VNG have expressed their concerns about whether enough polling station members and counters can be found. Also because the preparation time for this early election is short.
Hugo de Jonge: ‘An election cannot be organized without the many polling station members and counters. Partly because of their efforts, voters can cast their votes and all those votes are counted. That is why I call on people to register as volunteers at their municipality. This way we ensure that every vote counts.’
Counting votes and reserve polling station members
Members of the polling station check the voting cards and identity of voters, issue ballot papers and ensure that the voting process runs smoothly. People are also needed to help count the votes. Counting takes place on election night from 9:00 PM. And in some municipalities counting will also take place on Thursday, November 23. In addition, people are needed who want to be reserve polling station members. They are only called upon when necessary. For example, because polling station members are ill on election day. Volunteers who work at a polling station receive compensation.
People are being urged to register with a campaign via regional radio and newspapers. You can register directly with the municipality. Civil servants from the national government, provinces and water boards are also called upon to register as polling station members.
For more information: Frequently asked questions about working at a polling station | Rijksoverheid.nl.
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