Voter registrations for Brussels municipal elections low among non-Belgians

Far fewer non-Belgians have registered to vote in municipal elections in Brussels this year, according to preliminary figures from the interior ministry shared on the last day of registration.

The number of registrations among foreigners has fallen from 17% in 2018 to 12% this year, Bruzz reports, with one potential reason being that while non-Belgians are allowed to vote at the municipal level, many are not aware of it.

One possible explanation for the low awareness is the lack of information provided. A resolution to unify communication among the 19 municipalities was approved in the Brussels parliament but seems to have borne little fruit.

Molenbeek resident Iza Bodzioch told Bruzz that she had not received any notification by post that she was entitled vote.

“We have been living in Brussels since 2020, this will be my first local election here,” she said.

“The municipality didn’t send me anything. I registered myself at the same time as registering for the European parliament elections.”

Bodzioch is in favour of municipalities putting up posters: “It should be in the interest of the municipality to promote elections, since the municipal council represents the residents.”

Non-Belgians were able to register for the 13 October municipal elections until 31 July, after which the window closed.

Nationwide, the registration rate among non-Belgians is over 12%, with differences by region: in Flanders, only 5% of non-EU citizens and less than 9% of EU citizens registered; in Wallonia, more than 20% of EU citizens and 10% of non-Europeans registered.