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Foreign residents can vote in Luxembourg's communal elections — with no minimum residence period — and EU citizens in European elections. Registration closes 55 days before polling day.
Nearly half of Luxembourg's population does not hold Luxembourgish nationality, so the right of foreign residents to vote locally matters enormously. Since the electoral reform adopted in 2022 and first applied at the 2023 communal elections, any foreign resident may register to vote in communal elections without a minimum residence period. EU citizens may additionally vote in European elections held in Luxembourg.
| Election | Who may register | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Communal | All foreign residents (EU and non-EU) registered in a commune | Every 6 years |
| European | EU citizens residing in Luxembourg | Every 5 years |
| Legislative (Chamber of Deputies) | Luxembourgish nationals only | Every 5 years |
Non-EU residents must hold a valid residence document and must not have been deprived of voting rights. Important: registering for communal elections does not register you for European elections — the two lists are separate.
Be aware: in Luxembourg, voting is compulsory for everyone on the electoral roll. Once registered, you must vote in the relevant elections (postal voting can be requested under the conditions set by law). If you no longer wish to vote, you can ask to be removed from the roll before the registration deadline for the next election. Communal politics decides schools, housing, mobility and local taxes — a real reason to take part.
The communal voting system depends on the size of the commune: smaller communes use a relative majority system where you vote for individual candidates, while larger ones vote by proportional representation with party lists. In proportional communes you have as many votes as there are seats, and you may split them across candidates from different lists (panachage) or give up to two votes to one candidate — an unusually voter-friendly system. Postal voting is open to registered voters who request it within the legal deadlines, which is convenient if you travel often. Turnout among registered foreign residents shapes how seriously local politics takes international communities, so every registration counts twice: once as a vote, once as a signal.
