the theory
The requirements for the voting right
Do you meet all the requirements to vote?
Let’s go practicing!
did you know?
Are you 18 years old on election day?
(Note: You do not have to be 18 when you register to vote)
(Note: You do not have to be 18 when you register to vote)
You can not vote if…
- you are not 18 years old on the day of the elections
- you do not live in Luxembourg
- you are a non-Luxembourgish citizen and are not registered on the electoral list.
Perfect!
You have everything you need to vote in the municipal elections!
You have everything you need to vote in the municipal elections!
did you know? Please note that you can register on the electoral list either in your municipality or online.
Register onlinePowers & competences
The Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is divided into 102 municipalities.
The municipality has the power to manage through its own bodies:
- its heritage
- its territory
- its interests
A municipality, how does it work?
Each municipality has a municipal council, elected for a term of 6 years by the voters of the municipality.
The day-to-day management of the municipality is ensured by the college of the mayor and the aldermen, a body which emanates from the communal council, and which constitutes the executive power and the head of the communal administration.
By participating in the municipal elections, your political choice has an influence on the composition of the communal council of your commune.
The field of action of a municipality consists of compulsory tasks, enshrined in the constitution and the law, and optional tasks, which the authorities of the municipality are free to offer to their citizens without being obliged to do so by the law. The optional tasks are generally things which are useful or pleasant for the citizens, but which are not indispensable and for the implementation of which the municipality has to possess the necessary financial means.
Compulsory
tasks*
- The development of the municipality
- The supply of drinking water to the population
- The management of household and organic waste
- The realization and the maintenance of the communal roadway and the regulation of the traffic on this roadway
- Basic education and extracurricular activities
- The civil status
- Social assistance
- Burials and management of cemeteries
Optional
tasks*
- Grants to high school students
- Twinning with communities abroad
- Sports field
- Skateboarding track
- Night shuttle
- Youth centre
- Crèche
- Help for associations
- Playground
- Construction of social housing
*non-exhaustive lists
The electoral system
Each elector has as many votes as there are Councillors to be elected.
MAJORITY VOTE
Municipalities with < 3000 inhabitants
In municipalities with a population of less than 3,000, elections are conducted according to the relative majority system. The voter votes by placing a cross (+ or x) in the box behind the name of one or more candidates. The voter can mark as many crosses as there are candidates to be elected.
PROPORTIONAL VOTING
Municipalities with > 3000 inhabitants
In municipalities with a population of 3,000 or more, elections are held by list system with proportional representation.
The voter can :
- allocate one or two votes to the candidates of his choice, by marking one or two crosses (+ or x) in the boxes placed behind the names of these candidates. The elector can mark at most as many crosses as there are candidates to be elected;
OR
- write a cross (+ or x) in the circle placed at the head of a list. In this case the voter automatically awards one vote to each of the candidates on that list.
Example:
01
MAJORITY VOTE
For example, you live in Flaxweiler, which has 2.154 inhabitants. Thus, the election is held following with the majority voting system and you must elect 9 communal counsellors. 13 candidates present themselves for the elections.
In this example, you have given one single vote to the candidates of your choice. You have the possibility to attribute as many votes as there are officials to be elected (in this case 9).
02
PROPORTIONAL VOTING
For example, you live in Beaufort, which has 3.019 inhabitants. The election follows the rules of the proportional voting system, and you must elect 11 communal counsellors. In this example are 2 lists with 11 candidates who present themselves
List suffrage
In this example, you have chosen to attribute all the votes to the same list, by writing a single cross on the circle behind this list. You thus automatically attribute one vote to each candidate of this list. No additional votes are possible.
Nominal suffrage
In this example, you have given one or two votes to the candidates of your choice, up to the total number of votes available (11).
Any doubt?
Back to theory
Back to theory
the practice
Quiz
Are you ready for the municipal elections?
Check your knowledge about municipal elections with this multiple choice questionnaire (several answers possible)
Municipal elections are held every 6 years. Not to be confused with national elections which are held every 5 years!
The members of the municipal council are elected. The municipal council consists of the college of burgomasters and aldermen. The municipal council will then appoint a mayor and aldermen.
Since July 2022, it is no longer necessary for non-Luxembourgish citizens to reside in Luxembourg for at least 5 years in order to have the right to vote in communal elections. From now on, all non-Luxembourgers can participate in the elections as soon as they arrive in the Grand Duchy. Please note that non-Luxembourgish citizens must register on the electoral list at their commune 55 days before the elections.
A first unjustified absence is punishable by a fine of 100 to 250 euros.
Since July 2022, it is no longer necessary for non-Luxembourgish citizens to have lived in Luxembourg for at least 5 years in order to run for municipal elections. On the other hand, it is necessary to live in the commune for at least 6 months.
Yes, for all voters registered on the electoral roll, whether they are Luxembourg citizens, citizens of the European Union or nationals of a third country.
There are two voting systems at the municipal level. The majority vote and the proportional vote. Which system and how many votes you have, depends on the number of inhabitants of your commune.
Only non-Luxembourgish citizens have the possibility to unsubscribe from the electoral lists.
Question 01/08
How often are communal elections held?
Question 02/08
Who is elected in the municipal elections?
Question 03/08
As a non-Luxembourgish citizen, which condition(s) must I meet to vote?
Question 04/08
I am registered. If I don't go to vote, without valid justification, am I sanctioned?
Question 05/08
Can a non-Luxembourgish citizen be a candidate in the municipal elections?
Question 06/08
Is voting mandatory?
Question 07/08
How many votes do I have at the elections?
Question 08/08
Can I unregister to vote?
Wow ! Not bad !
You obtained on this exercise a score of
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Your general score is
we go to the next step
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or do we start again?
i’m sure you could do better!
You obtained on this exercise a score of
09 / 10
Your general score is
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the practice
Drag & drop
Do you know the difference between the competences of the municipality and those of the state?
Distribute the competences in the right instance’s ballot box:
Uppss! Wrong answer
Bravo!
That’s right
That’s right
Competences of the State
Army and police
Highways
Drinking water
Work and employment
Your retirement
Playground
Health
Grants for the students
Laws
Railroads
Twinning with a foreign community
Competences of municipalities
Wow ! Not bad !
You obtained on this exercise a score of
09 / 10
Your general score is
we go to the next step
0 / 30
or do we start again?
i’m sure you could do better!
You obtained on this exercise a score of
09 / 10
Your general score is
Retry
or do we pass this stage?
0 / 30
the practice
The voting ballots
Do you know how to vote in the municipal elections?
Check your knowledge!
Please click on your municipality and confirm to access the ballot
Please enter your municipality and confirm to access the ballot
est une commune de > 3000 habitants
vous avez accès au vote proportionnel
vous devez élire 15 conseillers communaux
I access to the ballot
To fill out the proportional ballot
You can:
- Write a cross (+ or x) in the box placed at the head of a list and thus give your votes to this list
OR
- Write one or 2 crosses (+ or x) behind a candidate on one or several lists (“panachage”). (be careful not to exceed the total number of votes you have)”.
To complete the majority ballot
You can:
- Place crosses (+ or x) in the box after one or more candidates, up to the total number of votes you have
Wow! On the way to the Municipalities!
You obtained on this exercise a score of
09 / 10
Your general score is
0 / 30
We recommend that you go through the theory again and redo the exercises to improve your score.
Retry
i’m sure you could do better!
You obtained on this exercise a score of
09 / 10
Your general score is
Retry
0 / 30