EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Article 39 - Right to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament
Article 39 - Right to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament
1. Every citizen of the Union has the right to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament in the Member State in which he or she resides, under the same conditions as nationals of that State.
2. Members of the European Parliament shall be elected by direct universal suffrage in a free and secret ballot.
Explanations
- Text:
Article 39 applies under the conditions laid down in the Treaties, in accordance with Article 52(2) of the Charter. Arti cle 39(1) corresponds to the right guaranteed in Article 20(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (cf. also the legal base in Article 22 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union for the adoption of detailed arrangements for the exercise of that right) and Article 39(2) corresponds to Article 14(3) of the Treaty on European Union. Article 39(2) takes over the basic principles of the electoral system in a democratic State.
Source:Official Journal of the European Union C 303/17 - 14.12.2007Preamble - Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights:These explanations were originally prepared under the authority of the Praesidium of the Convention which drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Although they do not as such have the status of law, they are a valuable tool of interpretation intended to clarify the provisions of the Charter.
Case Law References
- Mgr. Alexandra Uhlová, Pavlína Placáková, Strana Zelených (Green Party)Decision date:Deciding body type:National Court/TribunalDeciding body:Constitutional CourtType:DecisionPolicy area:Free movement and equalityECLI (European case law identifier):
- Kingdom of Spain v United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandDecision date:Deciding body type:Court of Justice of the European UnionDeciding body:European Court of JusticeType:DecisionPolicy area:ECLI (European case law identifier):
National Constitutional Law
48 results found
- Constitution of the Italian RepublicCountry:Italy
Art. 48. Any citizen, male or female, who has attained majority, is entitled to vote. The vote is personal and equal, free and secret. The exercise thereof is a civic duty.
The law lays down the requirements and modalities for citizens residing abroad to exercise their right to vote and guarantees that this right is effective. A constituency of Italians abroad shall be established for elections to the Houses of Parliament; the number of seats of such constituency is set forth in a constitutional provision according to criteria established by law. The right to vote cannot be restricted except for civil incapacity or as a consequence of an irrevocable penal sentence or in cases of moral unworthiness as laid down by law. Art. 56. The Chamber of deputies is elected by direct and universal suffrage. (...)Art. 58. Senators are elected by universal and direct ballot by voters who are twenty-five years of age. (...) - European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2004Country:Ireland
to contribute to the support of the infirm, the
- Act C of 1997 on Electoral ProcedureCountry:Hungary
Pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Hungary, suffrage is universal and equal; voting is direct and secret. To ensure that the exercise of the right to vote, the process of elections, referendums and popular initiatives shall be democratic and based on proper guarantees, the Parliament shall make the following law: (...)
- Magyarország AlaptörvényeCountry:Hungary
XXIII. cikk (SZABADSÁG ÉS FELELŐSSÉG) (1) Minden nagykorú magyar állampolgárnak joga van ahhoz, hogy az országgyűlési képviselők, a helyi önkormányzati képviselők és polgármesterek, valamint az európai parlamenti képviselők választásán választó és választható legyen.
(2) Az Európai Unió más tagállamának magyarországi lakóhellyel rendelkező minden nagykorú állampolgárának joga van ahhoz, hogy a helyi önkormányzati képviselők és polgármesterek, valamint az európai parlamenti képviselők választásán választó és választható legyen.
[…]
(6) Nem rendelkezik választójoggal az, akit bűncselekmény elkövetése vagy belátási képességének korlátozottsága miatt a bíróság a választójogból kizárt. Nem választható az Európai Unió más tagállamának magyarországi lakóhellyel rendelkező állampolgára, ha az állampolgársága szerinti állam jogszabálya, bírósági vagy hatósági döntése alapján hazájában kizárták e jog gyakorlásából. - The Fundamental Law of HungaryCountry:Hungary
Article XXIII (Freedom and Responsibility) (1) Every adult Hungarian citizen shall have the right to vote and to be voted for in elections of Members of the National Assembly, of local government representatives and mayors and of Members of the European Parliament.
(2) Every adult citizen of another Member State of the European Union with residence in Hungary shall have the right to vote and to be voted for in elections of local government representatives and mayors and of Members of the European Parliament.
[…]
(6) Those disenfranchised by a court for a criminal offence or limited mental capacity shall not have the right to vote and to be voted for. Citizens of another Member State of the European Union with residence in Hungary shall not have the right to be voted for if they have been excluded from the exercise of this right in their country pursuant to the law, a court decision or an authority decision of their State of citizenship. - Constitution of the Hellenic RepublicCountry:Greece
Article 51(3). The Members of Parliament shall be elected through direct, universal and secret ballot by the citizens who have the right to vote, as specified by law. The law cannot abridge the right to vote except in cases where a minimum age has not been attained or in cases of legal incapacity or as a result of irrevocable criminal conviction for certain felonies. [...] (5). The exercise of the right to vote is compulsory [...]
- To Σύνταγμα της ΕλλάδαςCountry:Greece
Το Σύνταγμα της Ελλάδας, Άρθρο 51 (3) Oι βoυλευτές εκλέγoνται με άμεση, καθoλική και μυστική ψηφoφoρία από τoυς πoλίτες πoυ έχoυν εκλoγικό δικαίωμα, όπως νόμoς oρίζει. O νόμoς δεν μπoρεί να περιoρίσει τo εκλoγικό δικαίωμα παρά μόνo αν δεν έχει συμπληρωθεί κατώτατo όριo ηλικίας ή για ανικανότητα δικαιoπραξίας ή ως συνέπεια αμετάκλητης πoινικής καταδίκης για oρισμένα εγκλήματα.[...] (5) Η άσκηση του εκλογικού δικαιώματος είναι υποχρεωτική.
- Basic Law for the Federal Republic of GermanyCountry:Germany
Article 38 (2) Any person who has attained the age of eighteen shall be entitled to vote; any person who has attained the age of majority may be elected.
- Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik DeutschlandCountry:Germany
Artikel 38 (2) Wahlberechtigt ist, wer das achtzehnte Lebensjahr vollendet hat; wählbar ist, wer das Alter erreicht hat, mit dem die Volljährigkeit eintritt.
- Constitution of FinlandCountry:Finland
Section 14 Electoral and participatory rights (...) Every Finnish citizen and every other citizen of the European Union resident in Finland, having attained eighteen years of age, has the right to vote in the European Parliamentary elections, as provided by an Act.
- Election Act (714/1998; amendments up to 218/2004 included)Country:Finland
Section 2 — Right to voteIn parliamentary elections, the Presidential election and European Parliamentary elections, every Finnish citizen is entitled to vote provided the person has reached the age of 18 not later than on the day of the election. In the Presidential election, the voting age must be reached not later than on the day of the first round of the Presidential election.In European Parliamentary elections, a citizen of another European Union Member State is also entitled to vote provided the person has reached the age of 18 not later than on the day of the election and whose municipality of residence referred to in the Municipality of Residence Act (201/1994) is in Finland provided the person has not lost the right to vote in European elections in the country of which he/she is a citizen (home state).Provisions regarding the right to vote in municipal electionsare laid down in the Constitution and the Municipalities Act.Voting by proxy is not allowed.
- Suomen perustuslakiURL:Country:Finland
14 § Vaali- ja osallistumisoikeudet (...) Jokaisella Suomen kansalaisella ja maassa asuvalla muulla Euroopan unionin kansalaisella, joka on täyttänyt kahdeksantoista vuotta, on oikeus äänestää Euroopan parlamentin vaaleissa sen mukaan kuin lailla säädetään.
- Euroopa Parlamendi valimise seadusCountry:Estonia
§ 4. Hääletamis- ja kandideerimisõigus
(1) Hääletamisõigus on Eesti kodanikul, kes on valimiste päevaks saanud 18-aastaseks.
(2) Hääletamisõigus on Eesti kodakondsust mitteomaval Euroopa Liidu kodanikul (edaspidi Euroopa Liidu kodanik):
1) kes on valimispäevaks saanud 18-aastaseks;
2) kelle püsiv elukoht on Eestis, see tähendab tema elukoha aadressiandmed on kantud Eesti Rahvastikuregistrisse (edaspidi rahvastikuregister);
3) kellelt tema päritoluriigis ei ole hääletamisõigust ära võetud.
(3) Hääleõiguslik ei ole isik, kes on:
1) valimisõiguse osas teovõimetuks tunnistatud;
2) kohtu poolt süüdi mõistetud kuriteos ja kannab vanglakaristust.
(4) Kandideerimisõigus on Eesti kodanikul, kes on valimispäeval vähemalt 21-aastane.
(5) Kandideerimisõigus on Euroopa Liidu kodanikul:
1) kes on valimispäeval vähemalt 21-aastane;
2) kelle püsiv elukoht on Eestis, see tähendab tema elukoha aadressiandmed on kantud rahvastikuregistrisse;
3) kellelt tema päritoluriigis ei ole kandideerimisõigust ära võetud.
(6) Euroopa Parlamendi liikmeks ei või kandideerida:
1) isik, kes on valimisõiguse osas teovõimetuks tunnistatud;
2) isik, kes on kohtu poolt süüdi mõistetud kuriteos ja kannab vanglakaristust;
3) tegevväelane.
(7) Isik võib samadel Euroopa Parlamendi valimistel hääletada ja kandideerida ainult ühes Euroopa Liidu liikmesriigis. - European Parliament Election ActCountry:Estonia
§ 4. Right to vote and stand as candidate.
(1) Estonian citizens who have attained 18 years of age by election day shall have the right to vote.
(2) A citizen of the European Union who is not an Estonian national (hereinafter citizen of the European Union) shall have the right to vote if:
1) he or she has attained 18 years of age by election day;
2) his or her permanent residence is in Estonia, i.e. the address details of his or her residence have been entered in the Estonian population register (hereinafter population register);
3) he or she has not been deprived of the right to vote in his or her home Member State.
(3) A person shall not have the right to vote if:
1) he or she is divested of the active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote;
2) he or she has been convicted of a crime by a court and is serving sentence in a penal institution.
(4) Estonian citizens who have attained 21 years of age by election day shall have the right to stand as candidates.
(5) A citizen of the European Union shall have the right to stand as a candidate if:
1) he or she has attained at least 21 years of age by election day;
2) his or her permanent residence is in Estonia, i.e. the address details of his or her residence have been entered in the population register;
3) he or she has not been deprived of the right to stand as a candidate in his or her home Member State.
(6) The following persons shall not stand as candidates for the European Parliament:
1) a person who has been divested of his or her active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote;
2) a person who has been convicted of a crime by a court and is serving sentence in a penal institution;
3) a person in active service in the Defence Forces.
(7) A person may vote or stand as a candidate only in one Member State of the European Union in the same elections to the European Parliament. - Danmarks Riges GrundlovCountry:Denmark
§ 29. Stk. 1. Valgret til folketinget har enhver, som har dansk indfødsret, fast bopæl i riget og har nået den i stk. 2 omhandlede valgretsalder, medmindre vedkommende er umyndiggjort. Det bestemmes ved lov, i hvilket omfang straf og understøttelse, der i lovgivningen betragtes som fattighjælp, medfører tab af valgret. Stk. 2. Valgretsalderen er den, som har opnået flertal ved folkeafstemning i overensstemmelse med lov af 25. marts 1953. Ændring af den til enhver tid gældende valgretsalder kan ske ved lov. Et af folketinget vedtaget forslag til en sådan lov kan først stadfæstes af kongen, når bestemmelsen om ændring af valgretsalderen i overensstemmelse med § 42, stk. 5, har været undergivet en folkeafstemning, der ikke har medført bestemmelsens bortfald.
§ 30. Stk. 1. Valgbar til folketinget er enhver, som har valgret til dette, medmindre vedkommende er straffet for en handling, der i almindeligt omdømme gør ham uværdig til at være medlem af folketinget.
§ 31. Stk. 1. Folketingets medlemmer vælges ved almindelige, direkte og hemmelige valg.
§ 33. Folketinget afgør selv gyldigheden af sine medlemmers valg samt spørgsmål om, hvorvidt et medlem har mistet sin valgbarhed. - Members of the European Parliament Elections Act Consolidation Act No. 584 of 23 June 2008Country:Denmark
- The Constitutional Act of DenmarkCountry:Denmark
Section 29. Subsection 1. Any Danish subject who is permanently domiciled in the Realm, and who has the age qualification for suffrage as provided for in sub-section (2) of this section shall have the right to vote at Folketing elections, provided that he has not been declared incapable of conducting his own affairs. It shall be laid down by statute to what extent conviction and public assistance amounting to poor relief within the meaning of the law shall entail disfranchisement. Subsection 2. The age qualification for suffrage shall be as determined by the referendum held under the Act dated March 25, 1953. Such age qualification for suffrage may be altered at any time by statute. A Bill passed by the Folketing for the purpose of such enactment shall receive the Royal Assent only when the provision for altering the age qualification for suffrage has been submitted to a referendum in accordance with sub-section (5) of section 42, and which has not resulted in the rejection of the provision.
Section 30. Subsection 1. Any person who is entitled to vote at Folketing elections shall be eligible for membership of the Folketing, unless he has been convicted of an act which in the eyes of the public makes him unworthy to be a member of the Folketing.
Sectiom 31. Subsection 1. The members of the Folketing shall be elected by general and direct ballot.
Section 33.The Folketing shall itself determine the validity of the election of any member and decide whether a member has lost his eligibility or not. - The Constitution of the Republic of CyprusCountry:Cyprus
Article 31
Every citizen has, subject to the provisions of this Constitution and any electoral law of the Republic or of the relevant Communal Chamber made thereunder, the right to vote in any election held under this Constitution or any such law. - Tο Σύνταγμα της Κυπριακής ΔημοκρατίαςCountry:Cyprus
ΑΡΘΡΟΝ 31
Τηρουμένων των διατάξεων του Συντάγματος και οιωνδήποτε δυνάμει τούτου ψηφιζομένων εκλογικών νόμων της Δημοκρατίας ή της αρμοδίας Κοινοτικής Συνελεύσεως, πας πολίτης δικαιούται να ψηφίζη εις οιανδήποτε εκλογήν διενεργουμένην συμφώνως τω Συντάγματι και οιωδήποτε τοιούτω νόμω. - Constitution of the Republic of CroatiaCountry:Croatia
Article 146
Citizens of the Republic of Croatia shall be European Union citizens and shall enjoy the rights guaranteed by the European Union acquis communautaire, and in particular:
(...)
– active and passive voting rights in European parliamentary elections and in local elections in another Member State, in accordance with that Member State’s law,
(...)
All rights shall be exercised in compliance with the conditions and limitations laid down in the founding treaties of the European Union and the measures undertaken pursuant to such treaties.
In the Republic of Croatia, all rights guaranteed by the European Union acquis
communautaire shall be enjoyed by all citizens of the European Union.Article 45
(1) All Croatian citizens who have reached the age of eighteen years (voters) shall be entitled to universal and equal suffrage in elections for the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia and the European Parliament and in decision-making procedures by national referendum, in compliance with law.(3) In elections for the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia and the European Parliament and in decision-making procedures by national referendum, suffrage
shall be exercised in direct elections by secret ballot (...)
(4)In elections for the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia and the European Parliament and in decision-making procedures by national referendum, the Republic of Croatia shall secure exercise of suffrage for its citizens with registered domicile in the Republic of Croatia who are outside of its borders during elections such that they may vote in diplomatic-consular offices of the Republic of Croatia in the foreign countries in which they located or in some other manner as specified by law.