Elections, referendums and political parties: Elections to the European Parliament
The right to vote in the elections to the European Parliament is held by citizens of the Republic of Slovenia or another EU Member State under certain conditions.
In the same election to the European Parliament, a voter may vote only once and only stand on one list of candidates.
This means that a voter can participate in the election of Members of the European Parliament only in one country.
A Slovenian citizen may attend the election if he/she fulfils the following conditions:
- has reached the age of 18 on the election day;
- is registered in the voting rights register.
The right to vote under the same conditions is held by a citizen of another Member State of the European Union if he/she has:
- a permanent residence permit and registered permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia, or
- a certificate of registration of residence and registered temporary residence in the Republic of Slovenia.
A voter shall vote in the electoral unit of his/her permanent residence. Voters may vote at specially designated polling station, although they do not have permanent residence in the district area if this intention was communicated to the district electoral commission, where they are registered to vote, at least three days before the voting day.
Elections take place at polling stations; before voting begins a member of the electoral committee must establish the identity of the voter by a personal document or in any other way. The voting day is determined to be a Sunday or another non-working day in the period determined by the authority of the European Union.
Voters who are absent on election day can vote early from Tuesday to Thursday of the week prior to Sunday, which is set for the election day, at the head offices of the district electoral commissions.
In some cases determined by law, it is also possible to vote:
- by post (voters who are receiving treatment in hospitals or are in care homes for the elderly - if they notify the district electoral commission or the unit electoral commission at least ten days before the voting day);
- by post from abroad or at a diplomatic or consular representation of the RS (voters who are abroad on the voting day because they have temporary residence there - if they communicate this to the National Electoral Commission 30 days before the voting day);
- by post from abroad or at a diplomatic or consular representation of the RS (voters who are registered in the voting rights register of the citizens of the RS who do not have permanent residence in the RS), if the state where they reside allows such voting or if this is allowed by an international agreement. A voting card is sent to these voters in due time;
- at home (voters who cannot personally appear at the polling station where they are registered in the voting rights register due to illness - must inform the district electoral commission at least three days before the voting day).