election in Belgium

Description of election in Belgium.......

Elections in Belgium are organised for legislative bodies only, and not for executive functions. Direct elections take place for the European Parliament, the bicameral Federal Parliament, the Parliaments of the Communities and Regions, the provincial councils, the municipal councils and a few district councils. 

Voting is mandatory and all elections use proportional representation which in general requires coalition governments.

The method of election, the elected bodies and the political party system has changed drastically since Belgium's founding in 1830. 

At first, there were only municipal, provincial and national elections with only few people being able to vote on the national level. Over time, voting rights were extended and eventually made compulsory. In the 2nd half the 20th century, political parties were split along the linguistic communities and the number of parties increased. In 1979, the European Parliament became a directly elected supranational body and due to the federalisation of the country, the Communities and Regions also got their own legislatures which are directly elected since 1993.

    
Population (as of July 1, 2013)=1,044,268

Registered Voters (as of )   

Elections in our database=9
   
Average Turnout=90.61%

Election For    Date              Votes              Registered    Turn
                                                                    Voters           Out    
Chamber of
Deputies          2014-05-25     -                    -                     -
Chamber of
Deputies          2010-06-13     6,929,855     7,767,552     89.22%
Senate             2010-06-13     6,929,478     7,767,552      89.21%
Senate             2007-06-10     7,032,384     7,720,796      91.08%
Chamber of
Deputies         2007-06-10     7,032,077     7,720,796       91.08%
Chamber of
Deputies         2003-05-18      6,936,801     7,570,637     91.63%
Senate             2003-05-18     6,934,678     7,570,580      91.6%
Senate            1999-06-13      6,646,028     7,343,466      90.5%
Chamber of
Deputies         1999-06-13      6,652,005     7,343,466      90.58%