At the federal, Flemish and European elections of June 9, 2024, a lot of special ones did not show up in the electoral and counting agencies. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of West Flanders presented them with an amicable settlement of 250 euros. Whoever did not pay that fine was summoned before the correctional court.
In the correctional court of Veurne, a total of twelve absent side chairmen had to answer on 7 March and Friday morning. It was about people who did not show up in the polling stations of Veurne, Nieuwpoort, De Panne and Koksijde. Strikingly enough, eight defendants also sent their cat to their trial. Four other defendants were therefore tried on contradiction.
The judge eventually sentenced eleven defendants to a fine of 640 euros a fine. A twelfth absent side chairman was fined 960 euros. In some cases, part of the fine with a postponement was awarded. The court took into account the socio -economic situation of the defendants and their criminal past.