Belgium
Description of Electoral System:
(Courtesy of IFES election guide)
The monarchy is hereditary. In the Senate (Senaat / Senat), 40 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve a 4-year term and 31 members are elected by indirect vote to serve a 4-year term. In Chamber of Deputies (Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants), 150 members are elected by popular vote via proportional representation to serve a 4-year term.
Electoral Systems Snapshot
(Courtesy of International IDEA)
*Click on links for definitions
| Electoral System for Natural Legislature | List PR |
| Type | PR |
| Tiers | 1 |
| Legislature Size (Directly elected, voting members) | 150, 150 |
| Electoral System for President | - |
WANT MORE ELECTION-RELATED STATS FOR BELGIUM? Go to "election databases" on the left-hand menu of this page OR comparative data on the right-hand menu and choose your area of interest.
Voting in Belgium
(Courtesy of wikipedia)
Voting is compulsory in Belgium; more than 90% of the population participates. Belgian voters are given five options when voting. They may:
- Vote for a list as a whole, thereby showing approval of the order established by the party they vote for;
- Vote for one or more individual candidates belonging to one party, regardless of his/her ranking on the list. This is a "preference vote;"
- Vote for one or more of the "alternates (substitutes);"
- Vote for one or more candidates, and one or more alternates, all of the same party; or
- Vote invalid or blank so no one receives the vote
Belgium: Constitution (2007)
