How to vote in Croatia

The European elections take part in Croatia on 9 June 2024. Every Croatian citizen who is a voter can cast a vote. It’s also possible to vote at polling stations abroad if certain conditions are met. Under certain conditions, also mobile EU citizens have the right to vote.

What is the date of the elections?

The European elections will take place in Croatia on 9 June 2024.

How many members are elected?

Voters in Croatia will elect 12 Members of the European Parliament in 2024.

How are the members elected?

Under EU law, all countries must use voting systems that ensureproportional representation, which means that the number of elected members from each party depends on the share of electoral votes obtained by the party. Croatia uses preferential voting, meaning that the voter circles on the ballot paper the ordinal number before the name of the candidates list. If the voter wished to give a preferential vote to a candidate on that list, he or she cirkles the ordinal number before the name of that candidate. Thereby that candidate is given advantege on that list and he or she is more likely to be elected.

Who is eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote in the European elections in Croatia if you are:

• at least 18 years of age on election day
• a Croatian citizen residing in Croatia or abroad
• an EU citizen with a legal residence in Croatia registered to vote at those elections

Where can I vote?

Croatian or EU citizen voting in Croatia

As Croatian or EU citizen willing to vote in Croatia, you have to vote in the specific polling station designated by your home address.
To find out your nearest polling booth, check out the website of the Ministry of Justice and Administration(in Croatian) after the elections will have been officially announced. If you wish to vote at another polling station in Croatia or abroad, special registration is required.

Croatian citizen voting from abroad
As Croatian citizen residing in Croatia, willing to vote from abroad, you have the right to vote in person in the European elections at polling stations in Croatian diplomatic-consular offices provided prior registration within the set deadline is made.
As Croatian citizen not residing in Croatia, willing to vote from abroad, you have the right to vote in person in the European elections at polling stations in Croatian embassies and consulates. If you have issued an e-identity card with residency abroad you are automatically registered to vote at the polling station pertaining to your residency. If you do not been issued such an e-identity card, you have to actively registered within the set deadline. If you fail to register, you are entitled to be issued a voting certificate on election day at the embyssy or consulate.
For further information, please refer to voter registration information at the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration or at the website of the State Electoral Commmission of the Republic of Croatia.

Where should I register to vote?

Croatian citizen voting in Croatia
As Croatian citizen, residing in Croatia, willing to vote in Croatia, you don't need to register on beforehand. Your polling station is designated according to your residency. If you wish to change the polling station location, prior registration within set deadine is required. 

EU-citizen voting in Croatia
As EU citizen having a registered permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Croatia, you need to register on beforehand.
You may find more information on the section "e-Citizens - Information and Services" of the website of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

Croatian citizen voting from abroad
As Croatian citizen, residing abroad, willing to vote from abroad, you don't need to register on beforehand if you have an e-identity card and if you plan to vote at the polling station pertaining to your residency.
However, if you don't have an e-identity card or if you plan to vote at a polling station not pertaining to you residency, you need to register in the Croatian embassy or consulate of the country you want to vote.
If you have residency in Croatia and wish to vote at a polling station aborad, you will have to register either with the competent authority in Croatia or in the Croatian embassy or consulate. The form for registration and further information are available on the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration and on the website of the State Electoral Commmission of the Republic of Croatia. 

What is the deadline for registering to vote?

Croatian citizen, residing and voting in Croatia
You don’t need to register in advance, as it is done automatically by the national authorities following the address of your residency. However, if you have changed your home address recently, we advise you to check on this web page of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration (in Croatian) whether your registration on the voting lists is correct.

EU-citizen voting in Croatia
You need to register to the competent administrative authority in your place of residence no later than 30 days before the date of the elections.

Croatian citizen residing and voting from abroad
The deadline for active registration is 10 days before the elections. The request is submitted to the embassy or consulate where the voter wishes to vote.
The form for registration is available on the website of the Croatian national authorities. If the voter has an e-identity card, she/he will be automatically activelly registered. If the voter fails to actively register, she/he can be issued a voting certificate on election day at the embassy or consulate where the polling station is set.

Croatian citizen residing in Croatia, wishing to vote abroad or at a different polling station
The voter has the opportunity no later than 10 days ahead of election to register with the competent authorities that he wishes to vote at a polling station abroad or at a polling station different from the polling station pertaining to his residency.

What documents do I need to bring to the polling station?

You should bring your identity card or your passport, and exceptionally your driving license or other public document with a photograph on the basis of which your identity can be undoubtfully established.

What support can I have as voter with a disability?

According to the European Parliament Elections Law (in Croatian), a voter with disability can come to the polling station acompanied by another person who is literate and who, on his authority and instructions, will circle the serial number in front of the name of the list, that is, the name of the candidate for whom the voter is voting.
If the voter is unable to access the polling station, she/he has to notify the Elections Committee. The president of the Elections Committee appoints at least two members of the Committee or deputies who will visit the voter in the place where she/he is located and enable voting.
Detailed instrucions on it can be found in State Electoral Commission Mandatory instructions No EP VII on voting modalities for voters with a physical disability, illiterate voters, blind voters or voters who cannot approach the polling station at the website of the Croatian State Electoral Commission.

Can I vote by mail, online or by proxy?

No, you cannot vote by mail, online or by proxy in the European elections in Croatia.

Disclaimer!!

All information has been sourced from elections.europe.eu. if you would like to learn more, click here.