Municipal elections on 13 October 2024

The next municipal elections will take place on Sunday 13 October 2024. On this occasion, the people of Etterbeek will elect the 35 representatives who will serve in the municipal council for the next six years.

The municipal council is the decision-making body closest to the citizen. The debates that take place here concern everything that directly affects your daily life: the development of public spaces, the environment, safety, access to leisure and culture, education, entertainment, economic life and many other matters.

Articles 11 and 12 of the New Electoral Code for Brussels require local authorities to inform citizens that, between 1 August and 1 October 2024, they can check whether their name is on the voters' list and whether the data concerning them is correct. The Electoral Code also provides for a complaints procedure in the event of an error on the electoral roll. To consult the list, contact the Electoral Affairs Department, Hôtel communal - 31/1 avenue des Casernes, Monday to Friday, 8am to 12.45pm and 2pm to 3.45pm (except Friday afternoons).

Further information: a notice has been issued by the municipal authorities explaining in detail the procedure to follow if you wish to lodge a complaint.

Belgians aged 18 or over on 13 October 2024 and entered in the population registers of a Belgian municipality on 1 August 2024 are automatically entered on the electoral roll for the municipal elections on 13 October 2024. No registration is required.

Foreign EU and non-EU citizens who registered on the electoral roll before 31 July 2024 may also vote.

V

oting is compulsory.

Further information: Voting by Belgian citizens

  • either online
  • or by handing in the completed and signed form at the municipality (Electoral Affairs Department, Zone A, Monday to Friday 8am to 12.45pm, Monday to Thursday 2pm to 3.45pm and Tuesday 4pm to 6.45pm);
  • or by returning the completed and signed form to the municipality (Electoral Affairs Department - Avenue des Casernes 31/1, 1040 Etterbeek), together with a copy of your identity card.

The registration form can be downloaded. Each form can also be obtained free of charge from the Electoral Affairs Department (Administration communale d'Etterbeek, Zone A, Monday to Friday from 8am to 12.45pm, Monday to Thursday from 2pm to 3.45pm and Tuesday from 4pm to 6.45pm - population@etterbeek.brussels, 02/627.21.11).

Once you are registered, you are legally obliged to take part in municipal elections and, provided the conditions for voting are still met, in subsequent elections, unless you are removed from the list of voters the day after the elections. Failure to fulfil your electoral duty may result in sanctions.

If you have already done this at previous local elections, and provided you still meet the electoral conditions, you do not need to register again. You will automatically receive your invitation.

Finally, even if you have registered to vote in local elections in Belgium, you can still vote in your country of origin for this type of election.

More information: : Voting by foreigners

If you are unable to vote on election day, you have two options:

  • You can submit your reasons for absence to the President of the Etterbeek Main Electoral Office (Hôtel communal, Avenue des Casernes 31/1, 1040 Etterbeek, 02/627.21.11, population@etterbeek.brussels), who will decide whether or not your reasons are justified.
  • Or you give a proxy to another voter.

Voters who are unable to go to the polling station on the day of election can vote by giving a proxy to another voter. In this way, the proxy (the person voting on behalf of the absent elector) can vote on behalf of the principal (the person unable to attend the polling station).

  • The proxy does not necessarily have to live in the same commune as the principal. The proxy must first vote in his own office before voting in the principal's office.
  • If the principal and the proxy are electors in the same municipality, then the proxy may vote in the polling station allocated to him or her or in the polling station allocated to the principal, both for himself or herself and for the principal. The proxy will vote first for himself and then for the principal.
  • On the day of election, the proxy must be in possession of the completed and signed“P1” proxy form, together with his or her identity document and his or her own invitation to the election, stamped to confirm that he or she has already voted at his or her polling station.
  • Please note that a person can only be a proxy once per election.

More information: : Voting by proxy

  1. Use proxy form P1. This form can be obtained:
    • Either on request from the Etterbeek municipality (Electoral Affairs Department, Zone A, Monday to Friday from 8am to 12.45pm, Monday to Thursday from 2pm to 3.45pm and Tuesday from 4pm to 6.45pm).
    • Or online
  2. Have the P1 proxy form completed and signed by the principal and the authorised representative. The same form must be signed by both the principal and the proxy, and the reason for voting by proxy must be stated on the form.
  3. The reason for the proxy request must be stated on the form and certified by the competent authority/institution.

  1. Illness or disability: the doctor certifies on form P1 that the elector cannot attend the polling station or be transported there.
  2. Professional reasons: the employer certifies on form P1 that the elector is unable to attend the polling station for professional reasons. If the elector is detained abroad, the employee must also certify this for the members of his family residing with him.
  3. Independent: the municipality (Electoral Affairs Department, Zone A, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. and Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 6.45 p.m.) certifies on form P1, on the basis of the company number and the declaration of honour (form P2), that the elector who is independent is unable to attend the polling station because of these activities.
  4. Situation involving deprivation of liberty: the prison governor certifies on form P1 that the elector is, on polling day, in a situation involving deprivation of liberty as a result of a judicial measure.
  5. Convictions: the organisation responsible for religious activities or the manifestation of convictions certifies on form P1 that the elector is unable to attend the polling station.
  6. Studies: the management of the educational establishment certifies on form P1 that the student is unable to attend the polling station.
  7. Temporary stay abroad : the municipality (Electoral Affairs Department, Zone A, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., Monday to Thursday from 2 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6.45 p.m.) certifies that the elector is temporarily staying abroad (for non-professional reasons) and is unable to attend the polling station on the day of election, provided that the impossibility has been established on presentation of supporting documents (plane tickets or hotel reservations) or, if the elector is unable to produce them, on the basis of a declaration on his or her honour (form P2)

Proxies may be given up to election day in cases 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, and up to the day before polling day in cases 3 and 7.

The municipality of Etterbeek will be organising electronic voting demonstration sessions in September 2024. The dates and locations will be announced at the proper time.

These demonstrations are intended for all Etterbeek citizens who wish to familiarise themselves with the electronic voting system. It is not necessary to register for these sessions.

For more information: : The electronic vote

You will receive it in your letterbox at least 15 days before the election. It will give you the address, number and opening hours of the polling station where you must vote. Polling stations will be open from 8am to 4pm.

Present this letter and your identity card at the polling station on 13 October 2024. You have not received an invitation letter or you have lost it? You can obtain a copy of this document from the Etterbeek municipal administration, Electoral Affairs Department, Zone A, Monday to Friday from 8am to 12.45pm, Monday to Thursday from 2pm to 3.45pm and Tuesday from 4pm to 6.45pm.

For more information: : Electoral Affairs Department, population@etterbeek.brussels, 02/627.21.11.

Your polling station is normally close to where you live. On polling day, 30 polling stations in 19 locations will be available to voters.

Arrangements will be made to reduce queues and give more help to people with disabilities.

Each polling station site will be accessible to people with reduced mobility and equipped with an adapted polling booth.

Transport may be provided for senior citizens, people with reduced mobility and people with disabilities to take them to and from the polling station. To make use of this service, it is essential to make a reservation (before 4 October 2024): Administration communale d'Etterbeek, Contact plus, contact.plus@etterbeek.brussels, 02/627.27.37

Need help in the polling booth? Assistance with voting can be provided in two cases:

  1. If you have a disability: you can ask the president of the polling station to arrange for you to be accompanied by a person of your choice (a relative or a member of the polling station).
  2. If you need specific assistance but are not disabled: you can ask the president or a member of the polling station to help you.

For more information: : People with reduced mobility

If you would like to stand as a candidate in the municipal elections, all the relevant information is available on the Brussels-Capital Region website: Conditions for being a candidate