Index – Homeland – More than 170,000 foreign citizens can vote in the municipal election

In addition to the 7.69 million Hungarian citizens with Hungarian addresses, more than 35,000 foreigners recognized as refugees or with long-term residence permits, as well as 137,000 citizens of other European Union member states with Hungarian addresses, can vote in the municipal elections, MTI reported.

In the European Parliament (EP) elections, EU citizens living in Hungary can decide to vote for Hungarian EP lists instead of their home country. However, for this they have to register themselves, 3,600 people have done this so far.

However, in local government elections, EU citizens with a Hungarian address are automatically entitled to both active and passive voting rights. They can take part in the voting and run as a candidate, so unlike the EP election, they do not have to be registered in order to exercise their right to vote.

However, EU citizens with a residential address in Hungary can only participate in the elections of local government representatives and mayors on June 9, but not in the election of national government representatives.

In the election of municipal representatives and mayors, not only Hungarian and EU citizens of legal age residing in Hungary can vote, but those recognized as refugees and all adults with long-term residence rights also have the right to participate in the election, but they cannot run as candidates.

Local government and European Parliament elections will be held in Hungary on June 9, 2024, the campaign period officially started on April 20, our weekend campaign report you can read it here .