If you cannot go to the polls on election day, you must vote by proxy: you authorise someone to vote in your place. You must be able to provide evidence or certificates to justify your absence.
If you do not vote yourself and you do not give a proxy, the police judge will determine the fine you will receive if you are prosecuted.
Target Group
- Burger
Conditions
You can vote by proxy only if you are in one of the situations listed below and can prove it with a certificate:
| Reason for absence | Proof of absence |
|---|---|
|
You are unable to go to the polling station for medical reasons or no one can take you there. |
A doctor's certificate (note: a doctor who is himself a candidate in the elections may not give this certificate) |
| You cannot participate for professional reasons (domestic or foreign). |
employees: a certificate from your employer (if other members of your family also reside abroad, they can give a proxy on the basis of this certificate) self-employed persons: a certificate proving the exercise of the profession and the reason for your absence |
|
You are a boatman, market vendor or fairground traveller. |
A certificate proving the exercise of the profession, issued by the mayor of the municipality where you are registered (members of your family living with you can also give a proxy on the basis of this certificate) |
| You are in a state of deprivation of liberty by a court order. | A certificate from the management of the penal institution (in this case, you are not obliged to give a proxy) |
| You cannot vote due to your religious beliefs. | A certificate from the religious authority |
| You are a student and cannot vote for study reasons. | A certificate from the management of the institution where you are studying |
| You are abroad for private reasons or on holiday. | a certificate of temporary residence abroad issued by the mayor of your municipality |
Even if you are prevented from being at the polling station on the day of the election itself due to force majeure (e.g. because of illness, traffic accident, cancelled flight, etc.), you must ensure that you obtain proof of your absence (e.g. doctor's certificate, accident report, travel organisation's certificate, etc.) and provide that proof to the justice of the peace as soon as possible.
Conditions for the power of attorney beneficiary
- The power of attorney beneficiary may be a family member, but not necessarily.
- The proxy transferee must not have received a proxy for other persons entitled to vote(one proxy per proxy transferee).
- The proxy recipient must be able to vote on the election date for all elections in which you are required to participate.
Proof
The proxy recipient presents to the chairperson of the polling station the following documents:
- the proxy form completed by you
- the certificate or proof of your absence
- his own identity card
- your letter of convocation
- his own convocation letter.
The proxy recipient will find the location of your polling station on your convocation letter.
Procedure
Procedure
First, fill in a proxy form. You can download the proxy form from the Verkiezingen.fgov.be website or request it free of charge from your municipal administration.
You then give the completed proxy form and the necessary documents in time to an elector who will vote for you, the proxy transferee.
On polling day, the proxy recipient goes to the polling station listed on your notice of poll with the proxy form and the necessary documents.
If you have not yet provided proof of absence during voting, you must provide such proof to the Justice of the Peace as soon as possible after the election.
You will find more information on the Elections.fgov.be website about the proofs and certificates you must be able to provide.