Saw this tweet passing by and I find it interesting to see how voting is handled in different countries, especially now we see so many instances of voter suppression in the USA.
We could talk a bit more about how voting is organised too.
Anyway, here in Belgium I've waited 15 minutes at most because I went at a peak time. Most of the time I wait no longer than 5 minutes.
Voting here is mandatory on all levels, though city council elections will become voluntary in the next cycle.
Every Belgian citizen of voting age gets a card in the mail with the voting location they should visit on voting day. I believe migrants who are eligable to vote have to register themselves though, and vote voluntary.
Your appointed polling stations is always closeby where you live (always in your municipality, and usually in schools. Larger municipalities and cities have multiple locations). Polling stations are also are divided in different numbered rooms. You can only vote in the room assigned to you on your voting invitation. I believe this is mainly to make it easier to check if everybody has come to vote (shorter lists), but I reckon it limits waiting times even further too as there is less chance to end up in a long line. (Every booth has a couple of booths to cast your vote).
Elections are always on sundays, so the vast majority of people have a day of anyway. Those that do have to work in essential services or those that are abroad have to vote by proxy.
Though voting is mandatory (well, not voting itself as you can cast blanks, but you have to show up) it's not really enforced. People who don't show up usually don't get fined. But participation is high, because most people do show up.
We could talk a bit more about how voting is organised too.
Anyway, here in Belgium I've waited 15 minutes at most because I went at a peak time. Most of the time I wait no longer than 5 minutes.
Voting here is mandatory on all levels, though city council elections will become voluntary in the next cycle.
Every Belgian citizen of voting age gets a card in the mail with the voting location they should visit on voting day. I believe migrants who are eligable to vote have to register themselves though, and vote voluntary.
Your appointed polling stations is always closeby where you live (always in your municipality, and usually in schools. Larger municipalities and cities have multiple locations). Polling stations are also are divided in different numbered rooms. You can only vote in the room assigned to you on your voting invitation. I believe this is mainly to make it easier to check if everybody has come to vote (shorter lists), but I reckon it limits waiting times even further too as there is less chance to end up in a long line. (Every booth has a couple of booths to cast your vote).
Elections are always on sundays, so the vast majority of people have a day of anyway. Those that do have to work in essential services or those that are abroad have to vote by proxy.
Though voting is mandatory (well, not voting itself as you can cast blanks, but you have to show up) it's not really enforced. People who don't show up usually don't get fined. But participation is high, because most people do show up.
