Dutch expats must register by September 17 to vote in October election

Dutch citizens living abroad must register by September 17 to participate in the upcoming October general election, choosing whether to vote by mail, proxy, or in person. This registration is required only for those who have not yet signed up.

Despite increasing concerns, voting from abroad still depends solely on postal ballots, a method criticized for frequent delays and lost votes. These issues have fueled frustration among expatriate communities.

The Foundation for Dutch Nationals Abroad (Stichting Nederlanders Buiten Nederland, SNBN), which advocates for Dutch nationals overseas, warns that relying on postal voting risks disenfranchising thousands. SNBN recommends voting by proxy as the safest option and continues to press the government for electronic voting solutions to modernize electoral process for expats.

Meanwhile, back in the Netherlands, the CDA is making a surprising comeback ahead of the election, pulling even with the VVD at 23 seats, according to the latest EenVandaag/Verian poll of 1,505 voters.

Despite their gains, the PVV remains the largest party with 30 seats, followed closely by GroenLinks-PvdA with 29. The far-right PVV has lost some ground recently, while the left-wing alliance has gained.

The poll shows the VVD losing support amid growing discontent with party leader Dilan Yeşilgöz, whose approval rating among VVD voters plummeted from 77 percent in mid-June to 50 percent. Some supporters criticize her for becoming “too populist” and say the party under her leadership is turning into a “light version of the PVV.” Others accused her of reversing positions and statements, undermining her credibility.

A major controversy also impacted her image. After Yeşilgöz accused singer Douwe Bob of antisemitism for declining to perform at a Jewish football event, the singer reportedly received death threats and went into hiding with his family. According to EenVandaag, many critical VVD voters described her behavior as "unworthy of a prime minister."

In contrast, CDA leader Henri Bontenbal is credited with much of his party’s rebound. Among people planning to vote for the CDA, 38 percent said they were doing so specifically because of Bontenbal. On average, only 8 percent of voters prioritize the party leader over policy.

Support for Bontenbal also extends beyond his party. Twenty-one percent of all respondents said they consider him a suitable candidate for prime minister. A Volt voter in the survey described him as “clear, honest, and able to build bridges.”

Support for the PVV dipped slightly, dropping from 32 to 30 seats, while GroenLinks-PvdA gained ground, rising from 26 to 29 seats. Other parties remained largely steady, with D66 maintaining 10 seats, and both SP and JA21 holding 7 seats each. JA21’s recent gains are linked to the addition of former PVV State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie to their ranks.

Among smaller parties, PvdD and FvD each stand at 4 seats, while DENK, BBB, and Volt each have 2. The Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC), the party formerly led by Pieter Omtzigt, remains in the Tweede Kamer with 1 seat.