Press Release: EU citizens still face obstacles to exercising their local voting rights, Commission report says

More and more EU citizens are exercising their right to live and work anywhere in the European Union, with around 8 million people of voting age currently residing in an EU country other than their own. As EU citizens, they have the right to vote or stand as a candidate in local elections in the EU country in which they live. However, only around 10% currently take advantage of this right, according to a new report published by the European Commission.

The report finds that while most countries have implemented the relevant EU rules (Directive 94/80/EC) in a satisfactory way, some obstacles remain. In addition, some citizens may not be aware of their rights and procedures may sometimes prove too cumbersome.