Prague’s untapped voting bloc: A new shortcut helps EU citizens register to vote - EUROPE SAYS
Political parties officially submitted their candidate lists this week for Czechia’s 2026 municipal elections on Oct. 9-10, and EU citizens living in the country still have time to take one important step if. . .
Political parties officially submitted their candidate lists this week for Czechia’s 2026 municipal elections on Oct. 9-10, and EU citizens living in the country still have time to take one important step if they want to participate: registering to vote. Thousands of foreign-born residents living in Prague and the rest of the country’s more than 6,000 municipalities can help choose their local representatives, including future mayors and city councillors, this autumn. But many don’t even know the right exists, and if they do are daunted by the country’s complex political system and the Herculean task of navigating Czech governmental websites toregister. In this week’s explainer, we look at who’s eligible to vote, how to register, and why municipal elections have much more impact on your daily life in Czechia than national elections. Who can vote?In most cases, foreign nationals are not allowed to participate in Czech elections. This includes presidential, parliamentary, senatorial and regional elections. Municipal elections are different. Citizens of any other EU member state can vote if they:For EU citizens, official residence means either permanent residence or a certificate of temporary residence. Non-EU citizens cannot vote in Czech municipal elections, even if they have lived in Czechia for many years. RECOMMENDED ARTICLEWhy many EU citizens miss the chance to voteOne of the reasons why so many EU citizens don’t register to vote has to do with the lack of information and clarity on the whole process, says Suzanne Verhaar,one of the founding membersof the Volby pro Všechny (Elections for All) initiative, which helps introduce non-Czech-born voters to the Czech political system and process. “Many EU citizens have never registered their residence here,” explains Verhaar. “Officially, we do have to, but there are no repercussions if you don’t, so many don’t bother,” reminding that EU citizens could face a fine if they don’t register their residence here starting from January 2027. Without official residence, EU citizens cannot be added to the voter list and cannot participate in municipal elections. Making the whole process even more difficult to navigate, the Ministry of the Interiorwebsitestill doesn’t have the application form EU citizens would need to fill in. The voter registration shortcutVoters-to-be simply need to submit a written application to be added to the annex of the voter list. The application requires only basic information:The application must be submitted to the municipal office of your official residence. For those living in Prague and other large cities, this is the municipal office of your particular district – not the Prague City Hall itself. Find all the locations and addresseshere. You can submit the application in person, by post, or via digital databox. If you want to avoid the administrative hassle, theVolby pro Všechny (Elections for All)initiative has launched an English-friendly registration tool that allows you to fill in and prepare the application form in just a few minutes. You don’t have to find it yourself, and they guide you on how to proceed afterwards, depending on whether you’d like to submit it in person, through the post or by databox. RECOMMENDED ARTICLEWhen should you register?“We recommend getting your registration as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks before the elections. You do not get any kind of confirmation, so the next step is just to show up at the elections,” Suzanne tells Expats. cz. Those who have registered in advance to vote will receive the ballot sheets directly at their place of residence. Those who haven’t can still show up at the polling station on election day and get registered on the spot – a special feature this year – as long as they have the right documents (ID card/passport + residence permit). But Suzanne warns: “The catch there is that you need to show up at the correct polling station for your home address, and there is only one such place,” she says. For those who prefer playing it last minute, she says that Volby pro Všechny will publish a ‘polling station finder’ by the start of September so that there’s no confusion. Essential things to know on election dayResidents of Prague and other large cities will receive two ballot papers: one for the City itself, and one for their local district. In other words, you’ll be voting for both the Prague City Hall (and the capital’s future mayor) and for whoever will lead the district you live in (and its future mayor). RECOMMENDED ARTICLEMunicipal elections can be confusing, as voters can circle both their favorite political party and/or individual candidates from different movements. There are roughly three ways to fill in the ballot paper(s):One final tip: many voters will receive two ballot papers and envelopes, so make sure you place them in the correct ballot box at the polling station, otherwise your vote won’t count. Once the paperwork is done and election day arrives, the final question is simple: why does this vote matter? “Because it matters. These will be the people who are going to decide on housing, roads and tram lines, schools, parks and events. On the surroundings in which we live our everyday lives. “