Entry of a foreign national’s data in the voter list for the European Parliament elections

Main information

EU citizens may vote in the European Parliament elections in the Member State where they are resident. However, before the elections, they must apply to be entered in the voter list for the European Parliament elections.

Third country nationals do not have the right to vote in the European Parliament elections.

This applies to you if

You have the right to vote if you

• are an EU citizen
• are at least 18 years of age on the second day of the election;
• are resident in the Czech Republic as of the election day (have a permanent residence permit for an EU citizen or certificate of temporary residence for an EU citizen);
• have been resident in the Czech Republic for at least 45 days prior to the election day;
• you are not entered in the annex to the voter list i.e. you do not vote in the Czech Republic in municipal elections (if you are entered in the electoral register for municipal elections, apply for transfer of data from the annex to the voter list for the European Parliament elections).

If you meet all the conditions and want to vote in the European Parliament elections in the Czech Republic (and not in your home country), request entry of your data in the voter list for the European Parliament elections.

Although a person may be a voter and be registered to vote, some facts may prevent him or her from voting. The following are legal impediments:

• restriction of the right to exercise the right to vote (a court has explicitly ruled that you are not able to vote)
• statutory restriction on personal liberty for reasons of public health protection (you are, for example, in quarantine or in the infectious disease department of a hospital and could while voting infect other people).

When to use this service

You can apply to be entered at any time, but at the latest 40 days before election day up to 16.00.

Vyřízení služby - osobně

What you need if you are using this service

An application may be submitted in person only.

When applying, provide your proof of identity (in particular a valid national identity card, travel document or permanent residence permit for an EU citizen).

In the application, state your:

• name,
• surname,
• sex,
• date of birth,
• nationality,
• country and place of birth,
• place of residence in the Czech Republic,
• the locality or constituency in your home Member State on the voter list of which your name was last entered,
• that you are applying to be enrolled the voter list for the European Parliament elections,
• and declare that you will vote in the European Parliament elections only in the Czech Republic.

You can use the application form, which is always available here after the election date is announced in the Collection of Laws, along with other information about the elections.

Where and how to solve this service

Submit the application to municipal office at the location of your registered residence in the Czech Republic.

In Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem, Pardubice, Opava and Liberec at the office of your city district.

Contacts for individual offices are available here.

The municipal authority will accept your application and will inform you no later than 15 days before election day how the application was processed.

Additional information

What is the benefit of this service

You may vote for a czech deputies in the European Parliament elections.

Appeal options

If you find errors or shortcomings in the voter list for the European Parliament elections in your case, you can seek redress in the regional court.

You may do this no later than 30 days prior to election day.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I vote?

In the municipality where you are resident.

If you wish to vote in another municipality, you can ask after registration for Poll card for the European Parliment elections.

Will I be voting for Czech candidates?

Yes. If you are entered in the Czech Republic voter list, you vote for Czech candidates in the European Parliament elections.

If you wish to vote for candidates of the member state of your origin, do not register in the electoral register, but contact your embassy in the Czech Republic.

May I vote in the European Parliament elections in my home Member State?

If you are entered in our (the Czech Republic) voter list, then no. Each person may vote only once in the European Parliament elections. If you vote in the Czech Republic, you may not vote in the country of your origin.

Must I apply for registration before every election?

No. You will be enrolled automatically in the voter list for the European Parliament elections, until you yourself request deletion or for as long as you continue to meet all conditions (especially residence in the Czech Republic). This also means that you cannot vote in the Member State of your citizenship until then.

How long will I appear in the voter list?

Once registered in the voter list for the European Parliament elections, you will be enrolled there until you yourself request deletion or for as long as you continue to meet all legal conditions. This also means that you cannot vote in the Member State of your citizenship until then.

If you are interested in voting for candidates in your home Member State again, simply ask the municipal authority to remove you from the voter list.

For example, if you move to another municipality within the Czech Republic, you will automatically be listed in the voter list in the new municipality. But if you leave the Czech Republic completely, you will no longer meet the conditions of residence in the Czech Republic and you will be removed from the register.

I wish to vote again in the Member State of my nationality. What should I do?

Simply ask your municipal authority to remove you from the votere list for the European Parliament elections.

Is voting compulsory?

No. Voting is not compulsory in the Czech Republic.

Where can I find more information?

On the website of Ministerstva vnitra .

You can submit individual questions to your municipal office, relevant regional office or the elections department of the Ministry of the Interior (volby@mv.gov.cz).