Vlaardingen to recount municipal election votes after counting errors cause confusion
Vlaardingen will recount its municipal election votes on March 23 after errors in counting led to discrepancies and confusion. The recount aims to restore public trust in the election results, which could impact seat distribution in the council.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Vlaardingen, Zuid-Holland |
| Date of Recount | March 23, 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Error Identified | Votes from polling station 30 mistakenly counted for station 29 |
| Impact of Error | Station 29 votes counted twice; station 30 votes omitted |
| Discrepancy Found | Small differences in votes per party and total votes |
| Venue for Recount | Civic Hall, Town Hall, Markt 11 |
| Parties Requesting Recount | Multiple political parties |
| Authority in Charge | Central Electoral Board, chaired by Mayor Frederik Zevenbergen |
The Central Electoral Board, led by the mayor, oversees the integrity of municipal elections in Vlaardingen. Its role includes addressing discrepancies and ensuring transparent, accurate vote counting to maintain public trust in democratic processes.
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Recount of municipal council election in Vlaardingen
A recount of the votes in the municipal council election in Vlaardingen will take place on Monday, March 23, at 10:00 AM. Several political parties have submitted a request for this to Mayor Frederik Zevenbergen, in his capacity as chair of the Central Electoral Board. The Central Electoral Board is authorized to decide on holding a recount.
During the preliminary quick count conducted on Wednesday night (March 18/19, 2026), the votes from polling station 30 were mistakenly used for polling station 29. As a result, the votes from station 29 were counted twice, while those from station 30 were not counted at all. This error was discovered during the count on Thursday, leading to a shift in the results. Fewer votes were cast at polling station 30 than at station 29, resulting in a slightly lower total number of votes.
Additionally, after the candidate-level count, a small discrepancy was found in the number of votes per party. As a result, three different figures were published on the municipality’s website: first, the count from Wednesday night; then, on Thursday, the corrected count from Wednesday night, with the preliminary results from polling station 30 properly included; and finally, on Friday afternoon, the publication of the official report of the central count at the candidate level. This has caused confusion. Given the minimal differences between the parties, the distribution of remaining seats, and previous discrepancies with the official report, the parties believe it is prudent to conduct a recount.
Mayor Frederik Zevenbergen: “Confusion has arisen due to human errors. This should not have happened. As chair of the Central Electoral Board, I have a responsibility to dispel any doubts. There is doubt, due to procedural errors and confusion in communication. On Monday, we will recount all the votes. Publicly, transparently, and definitively.”
The recount will take place in the Civic Hall at the town hall, Markt 11, and is open to the public.