{"id":3196,"date":"2015-03-16T14:30:42","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T14:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=3196"},"modified":"2015-03-12T20:25:52","modified_gmt":"2015-03-12T20:25:52","slug":"making-your-vote-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/making-your-vote-count\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Your Vote Count!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week I received an unexpected surprise in the mail. Although I am only a Dutch resident, I am eligible to vote in local elections. My family and I have always been big voters, and I was very happy to know that I am able to continue exercising this democratic right.<\/p>\n

What do I need to vote?<\/b><\/p>\n

In order to be able to vote, I need my\u00a0stempas<\/em> or my voting pass which I received in the mail. The\u00a0stempas<\/em> for local elections is green and the\u00a0stempas<\/em> for national elections is blue (this one I didn’t receive). I also need to take an\u00a0identiteitsbewijs<\/em> which can be a passport, drivers liceense or a simple ID\u00a0or, in my case, my\u00a0verblijfstitel<\/em>. I found very interesting that if you are unable to vote, you can sign off your pass so someone else can vote for you. That other person needs your\u00a0stempas,\u00a0<\/em>a copy of your ID and their ID.<\/p>\n

\"Stempas<\/a>

Stempas en Kandidatenlijst<\/p><\/div>\n

Where do I go?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0stempas<\/em>\u00a0I received tells me the information of my nearest voting place, which is in the\u00a0gemeentehuis<\/em>, but I can also go to the other voting places within my city. If I were to need to vote in another\u00a0gemeente<\/em> or for another\u00a0gemeente,\u00a0<\/em>I can ask for this directly in the\u00a0gemeente.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Who do I vote for?<\/b><\/p>\n

This is, of course, the most personal part of the voting process. A couple of days after receiving my\u00a0stempas,\u00a0<\/em>I also received \u00a0the\u00a0kandidatenlijst\u00a0<\/em>for the province of Limburg. It is quite an extensive list! There are 355 candidates for the province elections and 113 for the water-related elected officials for the region. The candidates are part of 12 different parties, which makes the process a bit overwhelming….but not impossible!<\/p>\n

12 Partijen?!?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will attempt to briefly describe the political parties of the regular local elections.<\/p>\n

PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid)<\/em>– right-wing party founded in 2005 by Geert Wilders, Eurosceptic, wants more regulations for immigrants,<\/p>\n

CDA (Christen-Democratisch Appel)<\/em>– Christian-Democratic party founded in 1977, \u00a0center-right party, party leader is in favor of elected mayors as opposed to mayors by royal decree<\/p>\n

VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie)<\/em>– \u00a0conservative-liberal party, founded in 1948, supports private enterprise and is liberal in economic aspects<\/p>\n

Partij van de Arbeid (P.v.d.A.)<\/em>– social-democratic labor party, founded in 1946, commited to building the welfare state, since 2005 it has followed a center-left ideology<\/p>\n

SP (Socialistische Partij)<\/em>– founded in 1971, labels itself as a socialist party, main issues are employment, social welfare, public education, public safety and health care<\/p>\n

Groenlinks<\/em>– green left-wing party, founded in 1989, party describes itself as green, social and tolerant, for a fair distribution of natural resources as well as a fair distribution of income<\/p>\n

Democraten 66<\/em>– also known as D66, founded in 1966, the founders wanted a presidential system like the U.S., they favor direct democracy and major changes in the party are done by referendum, social liberal party, for a European federation<\/p>\n

50PLUS<\/em>– founded in 2009, focuses on the interest of pensioners, center ideology<\/p>\n

Partij voor de Dieren<\/em>– focus on animal rights and animal welfare, sceptical of the EU, center-left\/left-wing party<\/p>\n

There were 3 parties that were specific for the region:<\/p>\n

Vokspartij Limburg<\/em>– focuses on Limburg, considered a “local” party,<\/p>\n

LOKAAL- LIMBURG<\/em>– focus on local problems for Limburg, want more “local” representation in region issues, want Limburg to be taken more into consideration by The Hague<\/p>\n

Partij voor Leefbaarheid en Democratie<\/em>– focus on Limburg, make the region more vital and dynamic, want a better life for people in the region<\/p>\n

\n

Will any of you vote in the Netherlands? What are your voting experiences?<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Last week I received an unexpected surprise in the mail. Although I am only a Dutch resident, I am eligible to vote in local elections. My family and I have always been big voters, and I was very happy to know that I am able to continue exercising this democratic right. What do I need…<\/p>\n

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