How does voting work?
Election day
On election day, all those registered on the electoral list in the Grand Duchy are called to the polls to elect their political representatives. I must go and vote if I am registered on an electoral list.
- At least 5 days before the elections, I will receive an invitation from my local administration indicating the date of the elections and the opening hours of the polling station to which I must go.
- The invitation also contains instructions (explanations on the ballot paper) and the list of candidates.
On the day of the elections I must:
- Go to the polling station of the municipality that I live in, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Bring a valid identity document (identity card, passport, residence permit or residence card).
- Then, all I have to do is go to the voting booth and make my choice.
- The number of councillors depends on the number of inhabitants of a municipality. Depending on the number of inhabitants, the municipality can have 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 or 19 councillors. There are 27 councillors in the city of Luxembourg.
All polling stations close at 2.p.m.
Postal voting
I can apply to vote by post.
The application to vote by post must be sent to the municipality where I am registered:
- at the earliest 12 weeks and at the latest 25 days before election day, if my invitation letter is to be sent to an address in Luxembourg.
- at the earliest 12 weeks and at the latest 40 days before election day, if my invitation letter has to be sent to an address abroad.
- I can apply for a postal vote online via MyGuichet.lu or by post (on plain paper or on a pre-printed form to be obtained from my municipality).
Election system
There are 2 different voting systems for the municipal elections:
In a municipality with a population of less than 3,000 inhabitants
- In municipalities with a population of less than 3,000 inhabitants, elections are held according to the relative majority system (“Majorzgemeng”)
- I have as many votes as there are councillors to be elected to the local council.
- I cast my vote by placing a cross (+ or x) in the box next to the name of one or more candidates, up to the total number of votes I have.
In a municipality with a population of more than 3,000 inhabitants
- In municipalities with a population of at least 3,000 inhabitants, the elections are carried out through list-based voting with proportional representation (“Proporzgemeng”)
- I have as many votes as there are councillors to be elected.
- I can give one or two votes to each candidate up to the total number of votes I have.
- Each cross (+ or x) placed in one of the two boxes behind the name of the candidates is equivalent to a vote for that candidate.
- According to the system of the panachage*, I distribute my votes to the various candidates of the various parties. I can give 1 or 2 votes per candidate.
- I can also vote the whole list of a political party by putting my cross (+ or x) in the box directly below the name of the political party. In that case, the total number of my votes is for that political party.
Saeul
Wahl
Putscheid
Grosbous
Kiischpelt
Fischbach
Waldbredimus
Reisdorf
Bech
Vichten
Boulaide
Winseler
Nommern
Ell
Heffingen
Goesdorf
Bourscheid
Bous
Préizerdaul
Biwer
Waldbillig
Berdorf
Useldange
Stadtbredimus
Lenningen
Schieren
Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Weiswampach
Consdorf
Flaxweiler
Vianden
Tandel
Manternach
Larochette
Garnich
Colmar-Berg
Feulen
Mertzig
Dalheim
Erpeldange-sur-Sûre
Weiler-la-Tour
Reckange-sur-Mess
Koerich
Vallée de l'Ernz
Leudelange
Beckerich
Beaufort
Bettendorf
Redange-sur-Attert
Esch-sur-Sûre
Wormeldange
Lintgen
Bissen
Troisvierges
Rosport - Mompach
Sandweiler
Parc Hosingen
Remich
Contern
Kopstal
Betzdorf
Schuttrange
Lorentzweiler
Dippach
Helperknapp
Wincrange
Rambrouch
Mertert
Frisange
Habscht
Schengen
Grevenmacher
Mondorf-les-Bains
Steinsel
Clervaux
Rumelange
Steinfort
Echternach
Kehlen
Niederanven
Roeser
Mondercange
Diekirch
Wiltz
Junglinster
Walferdange
Bertrange
Ettelbruck
Kayl
Mersch
Mamer
Strassen
Käerjeng
Schifflange
Bettembourg
Hesperange
Sanem
Pétange
Dudelange
Differdange
Esch-sur-Alzette
Luxembourg
- Proporzgemeng: Population over 3,000
- Majorzgemeng: Population under 3,000
I can find out more about my municipality and the electoral system on this ASTI website.
(Letz vote is an online tool by our partner ASTI)
How do I vote in my municipality?
(A document by our partner CEFIS)
Who can I vote for? Which parties are there in Luxembourg?
(a document by our partner CEFIS)