Voting Rights in Luxembourg: Elections, Registration, and Procedures

Do you live in Luxembourg and want to understand your voting rights? The Luxembourg electoral system can be surprising to newcomers: voting is mandatory for registered voters, but not all elections are open to the same categories of residents.

Depending on your nationality, place of residence, and registration on the voter rolls, you may be eligible to vote in municipal, European, legislative, or professional elections.

This guide provides essential information for expats, foreign residents, and newcomers on voting and elections in Luxembourg: who can vote, how to register, which elections to participate in, how to vote by mail, and what mistakes to avoid.

In which elections can you vote in Luxembourg?

Voting rights depend primarily on your nationality. A Luxembourg citizen does not have the same voting rights as a resident who is a citizen of the European Union or a resident who is a citizen of a third country.

Your situation	Elections covered	Key points
Luxembourg citizen residing in Luxembourg	Municipal, legislative, European, and referendums as applicable	Automatic registration and mandatory voting.
Luxembourg citizens residing abroad	Parliamentary, European, and national referendums, as applicable	Voting by mail is possible.
Foreign residents who are citizens of the European Union	Municipal and European elections	Voluntary registration on the Luxembourg electoral rolls.
Foreign residents from outside the European Union	Municipal	Voluntary registration on the municipal voter rolls.
Employees in Luxembourg	Social/professional elections, as applicable	Rights related to professional status and the relevant organizations.

Voting in Luxembourg: a right and an obligation

In Luxembourg, voting is both a civic right and an obligationfor voters registered on the electoral rolls.

Luxembourgish citizens aged 18 and over are automatically registered. Foreign residents, on the other hand, must register voluntarily if they wish to vote in elections open to non-Luxembourgish citizens.

Once registered, voters are required to vote. Penalties may apply for unjustified abstention. However, certain situations may be considered valid excuses, including age, health, or work-related constraints.

How do you register on the voter rolls?

To vote in Luxembourg as a foreign resident, you must apply to be registered on the relevant voter rolls.

Registration can generally be done:

• online via MyGuichet.lu;
• or directly at your local municipal office, with a valid ID.

Registration on the voter rolls is permanent. It therefore does not need to be renewed for each election. If you move to another municipality in Luxembourg, your registration is generally transferred automatically.

If a voter wishes to be removed from the voter rolls, they must submit a written request to the municipal council, attaching a copy of their ID card.

Do you have other administrative procedures to complete in Luxembourg? Consult our administrative guide.

Checklist: Registering to Vote in Luxembourg

□ Check your nationality and the elections in which you are eligible to vote.

□ Verify that you are a resident of Luxembourg.

□ Have a valid ID ready.

□ Check the registration deadline before the election.

□ Apply via MyGuichet.lu or at your local municipality.

□ Keep your registration confirmation.

□ Carefully read the voting notice you receive before the election.

□ Request a mail-in ballot if you are unable to vote in person.

Municipal Elections in Luxembourg

Municipal elections are held to elect municipal council members. They take place every 6 years. The next municipal elections will be held in 2029.

Since the reform applicable to the 2023 municipal elections, foreign residents may participate in municipal elections without a minimum residency requirement in Luxembourg, provided they meet the criteria and register by the deadline.

Who can vote in municipal elections?

To be eligible to vote in municipal elections, voters must generally:

• be at least 18 years old on election day;
• be registered on the municipal voter list by the deadline;
• enjoy full civil rights and not have been deprived of the right to vote;
• be a Luxembourg citizen or a non-Luxembourg resident;
• be domiciled in the municipality where they wish to vote.

More information is available on the jepeuxvoter.lu website.

Can you run for office in municipal elections?

A non-Luxembourgish resident may, under certain conditions, run for office in the municipal electionsin their municipality of residence.

In particular, they must have resided in Luxembourg for at least 5 years and have lived in the relevant municipality for at least 6 months. The candidacy must be filed within the specified deadlines prior to the election.

How does the municipal election take place?

Municipal elections are held by secret ballot in a single round. Voters receive a notice indicating the polling place where they must go with a valid ID.

Municipalities with fewer than 3,000 residents vote using the relative majority system. Municipalities with 3,000 residents or more vote using the proportional representation system.

Each voter has a number of votes corresponding to the number of seats to be filled on the municipal council. They may vote for an entire list, distribute their votes among several candidates, or cast up to two votes for the same candidate, without exceeding the total number of votes available.

Municipal elections are held to elect representatives for each municipality in Luxembourg. The mayor and aldermen are then appointed in accordance with the rules applicable at the municipal level.

Parliamentary Elections in Luxembourg

Legislative elections are held every 5 years. They elect the 60 members of the Chamber of Deputies.

These elections determine the composition of Parliament and influence the formation of the government. The next elections will take place in 2028.

Who can vote in parliamentary elections?

Parliamentary elections are open only to Luxembourg citizens.

To vote in parliamentary elections, a voter must:

• be a Luxembourg citizen;
• be at least 18 years of age on election day;
• enjoy full civil and political rights;
• be domiciled in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, except in the case of absentee voting for Luxembourgers residing abroad.

All Luxembourgish voters registered on the electoral rolls are eligible to vote in parliamentary elections.

How do you vote in parliamentary elections?

For parliamentary elections, Luxembourg is divided into 4 constituencies:

• Central: 21 members of parliament;
• South: 23 members of parliament;
• North: 9 members of parliament;
• East: 7 members of parliament.

Each voter has a number of votes equal to the number of representatives to be elected in their district. They may vote for an entire list or distribute their votes among several candidates, including those from different lists.

They may also allocate two votes to the same candidate, provided they do not exceed the total number of votes allowed.

To understand how the country’s political system works, check out our guide to Luxembourg’s institutions and political parties.

European elections in Luxembourg

European elections are held to elect Luxembourg’s 6 representatives to the European Parliament. They take place every 5 years. The next elections will be held in 2029.

Luxembourg citizens and citizens of another European Union member state residing in Luxembourg may vote in European elections, provided they meet the applicable criteria.

Learn more about the role of the European Union in Luxembourg.

European residents: vote in Luxembourg or in your home country?

A citizen of the European Union residing in Luxembourg may choose to vote for Luxembourg’s representatives in the European Parliament, provided they register on the European electoral rolls in Luxembourg.

They may also choose to vote for representatives from their home country, in accordance with the procedures established by their consulate or their country’s authorities. However, they may not vote twice in the same European elections.

Please note: You must therefore choose between voting in Luxembourg or voting in your home country for the European elections.

Requirements for voting in the European elections in Luxembourg

To vote in the European elections in Luxembourg, you generally must:

• be at least 18 years of age on election day;
• be a Luxembourg national or a national of another European Union member state;
• be a resident of Luxembourg;
• be registered on the European electoral roll by the deadline;
• not be voting simultaneously in another Member State for the same elections.

Non-Luxembourgish European residents can register with their municipality of residence or via MyGuichet.lu.

Trade Union and Social Elections

In Luxembourg, certain residents may also participate in professional or social elections, depending on their status as an employee, self-employed person, retiree, or member of certain organizations.

These elections allow for the appointment of representatives to professional institutions, professional chambers, or organizations related to the world of work.

The requirements vary depending on the election in question. Employees working in Luxembourg, including certain cross-border workers, may be affected by these procedures.

How does an election take place in Luxembourg?

Elections in Luxembourg are held by secret ballot. Voters go into the voting booth, fill out their ballot, fold it, and then place it in the ballot box under the supervision of polling station officials.

At the end of the election, the ballots are counted polling station by polling station. The results are used to allocate seats according to the specific rules of each election.

When no single party has a sufficient majority to govern alone, negotiations may be held between parties to form a coalition and establish a common agenda.

Voting by mail in Luxembourg

Voting by mail allows you to vote when you cannot go to the polling station on election day.

Voting by proxy is not permitted in Luxembourg. If you are absent, unable to vote, or in a special situation, you must therefore request a mail-in ballot.

Who can request a mail-in ballot?

Postal voting is available, in particular, to:

• voters over the age of 75;
• people who are unable to travel due to health reasons;
• people who cannot go to the polling place for duly justified professional or personal reasons;
• voters who live in a municipality other than the one where they are registered to vote;
• Luxembourgers residing abroad for certain elections.

When should you request a mail-in ballot?

The request for a mail-in ballot must be submitted to the College of the Mayor and Aldermen of your municipality within the specified deadlines prior to the election.

The exact deadlines vary depending on the type of election and where the voting notice is sent. It is therefore recommended that you check the official information as soon as you receive your voting notice.

For more information on elections and voting rights in Luxembourg, visit the official websites: www.guichet.public.lu and www.elections.public.lu.

Consulate, country of origin, and voting from Luxembourg

As an expatriate or foreign resident in Luxembourg, you may also be eligible to vote in elections in your country of origin.

Depending on your nationality, it may be helpful to register with the consulate or embassy of your home country in Luxembourg. This registration can facilitate your participation in certain national, presidential, legislative, or European elections, depending on your country’s rules.

Please note: for European elections, you cannot vote in both Luxembourg and your home country.

Don’t forget to register with your home country’s consulate in Luxembourg if you wish to continue participating in certain elections in your home country.

Becoming a Luxembourg citizen and voting in national elections

Foreign residents who obtain Luxembourgish citizenship become Luxembourgish citizens, with the rights and obligations attached to that status.

They may then participate in elections reserved for Luxembourg citizens, particularly parliamentary elections.

For more information: Luxembourg citizenship: requirements and procedures.

Practical summary for expats

Question	Short answer
Can a foreigner vote in Luxembourg?	Yes, in municipal elections. EU citizens can also vote in European elections.
Are parliamentary elections open to foreigners?	No, they are reserved for Luxembourg citizens.
Is voting mandatory?	Yes, for voters registered on the electoral rolls.
Can you vote by proxy?	No. Voting by mail may be requested in certain cases.
Do I need to re-register after moving?	Registration is generally transferred automatically when you move to a different municipality in Luxembourg.

FAQ: Voting Rights and Elections in Luxembourg

More information on the political system in Luxembourg.