Low voter turnout among expats drives election dip in Brussels
Voter turnout in Sunday’s elections hit historic lows in Brussels, with fewer than six in 10 eligible voters casting a ballot. Low registration among non-Belgian expats, who make up a third of the electorate, contributed significantly to this decline, an analysis by political scientist Emilie van Haute of ULB and VRT NWS shows.
For the first time, Flanders removed mandatory voting in its local elections, leading to a significant drop in turnout. Even though voting remained compulsory in Wallonia and Brussels, participation there also declined. In Brussels, one in five voters chose to abstain.
That number falls further when the low voter registration rate among non-Belgians is taken into account. Brussels is home to a large population of EU and non-EU expats, many of whom are eligible to vote but must register first. Despite making up about one-third of the electorate, only one in six did so.
When factoring in both the low voter turnout and the low registration rate among non-Belgians, total voter participation in Brussels fell to just 56.8 per cent, less than six in 10 eligible residents. In municipalities like Ixelles and Saint-Gilles, home to many expats, fewer than half of eligible voters cast a ballot.
Many of these expats are short-term residents with little political engagement. Poor communication from municipalities and limited outreach from political parties also contributed to the low registration rates.
A voting booth © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
Related news
