Enschede residents to cast votes in municipal and village council elections on 18 March 2026
On 18 March 2026, residents of Enschede and Boekelo will elect their new municipal and village councils. Your vote shapes local policies on housing, transport, and community services. Ensure you bring valid ID and your polling card to participate in this democratic process.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Election Date | 18 March 2026 |
| Locations | Enschede (municipal council), Boekelo (village council) |
| Voting Hours | 07:30 – 21:00 (Enschede NS station: 06:00 – 21:00) |
| Required Documents | Polling card + valid ID (passport, ID card, or driving licence) |
| Proxy Voting Rules | Max 2 proxies per voter; proxy must live in Enschede and vote themselves |
| Accessibility Features | Wheelchair access, magnifying glasses, sign language interpreters |
| Special Polling Station | Metropool (Willem Wilminkplein 2): braille templates, low-stimulus environment |
| More Information | enschede.nl/verkiezingen |
The Municipality of Enschede organizes local elections to ensure democratic representation in decision-making. It oversees polling logistics, voter accessibility, and compliance with electoral laws to facilitate fair and inclusive participation.
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Read the full translated article below
Municipal elections 18 March 2026
On Wednesday 18 March, residents of the municipality of Enschede will elect their new municipal council. In Boekelo, there will be dual elections. Residents of Boekelo will also be able to elect their new village council. You can vote at all polling stations between 07:30 and 21:00.
The exception to this is the polling station at Enschede NS station, where you can vote between 06:00 and 21:00. You can read what you need to know in this message.
What you need to bring to vote
- Your polling card. If you have not received or obtained a polling card, you can request a new one at the City Office until Tuesday 17 March at 12:00. No appointment is required for this.
- A valid passport, ID card or driving licence (valid at least until 19 March 2021)
Polling stations
You can find polling stations near you on your polling card and all polling stations in the municipality of Enschede at https://www.enschede.nl/stembureaus. All locations are wheelchair accessible and have, among other things, a magnifying glass and a disabled parking space. An online sign language interpreter is also available.
Polling station with additional facilities
At polling station Metropool, Willem Wilminkplein 2, you will find additional facilities such as a braille ballot template with audio support, a remote sign language interpreter and a communication desk where the voice of an employee is transmitted to your hearing aid or headphones. This polling station is also low-stimulus until 17:00. More peace, more space, less noise.
Voting
You vote by marking the white box in front of the name of your chosen candidate in red. Fold the ballot paper so that the list of candidates is not visible. Place the ballot paper in the ballot box. Note: did you make a mistake? Ask for a new form; this is allowed once!
Your vote is invalid if you use a colour other than red on the ballot paper; mark more than one box in red; add drawings or text.
Not voting in person, how does that work?
Another voter can vote on your behalf. You then give authorisation. The easiest way is to fill in the back of your polling card. You must also sign it. Provide a copy of your passport, ID card or driving licence; this can also be done digitally, for example via your phone. The following rules apply:
- The person voting on your behalf lives in the municipality of Enschede;
- The person voting on your behalf must also vote themselves at the same time;
- This person can vote on behalf of a maximum of 2 other people.
Voting guide and enschede.allekandaten.nl
You have not yet decided who to vote for? Fill in a voting guide. Would you like to know more about the candidates? Visit enschede.allekandidaten.nl.
More information
Visit enschede.nl/verkiezingen. You can read everything about the elections there. You can also call 053 – 481 7200. We are happy to help.
Our visiting address is: Hengelosestraat 51. For questions about elections, you can visit us from Monday to Friday without an appointment. Opening hours are from 08:30 to 16:30 and on Thursday evenings from 17:00 to 19:30.