Poll card, appointing someone to vote for you

If you are registered in the municipality of Maastricht on 2 February 2026 and are eligible to vote, you will receive a poll card (stempas) that allows you to vote in Maastricht. You may also choose to authorise someone else to vote on your behalf. This page explains how it works.

Poll card

Who receives a poll card for Maastricht?

If you are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of Maastricht on 2 February 2026, and you are eligible to vote, you will receive a poll card for the municipal council elections. Your poll card will be sent to your home address.

If you’re unsure whether you are eligible to vote in this election, you can check the Kiesraad website.

How it works

You will receive your poll card no later than 4 March 2026. You can use it to vote at any polling station within the municipality of Maastricht.

Bring your poll card and a valid identity document with you. Your ID may be up to 5 years expired on election day.

Request a replacement poll card

If you haven’t received your poll card by Monday 13 October 2025, you can apply for a replacement. There are 2 ways to do this.

• Online

  
  Use the button on this page. This option is available from 2 March until Friday 13 March 2026.
   

• At the Municipal Desk

  
  You can also apply in person from 2 March until Tuesday 17 March 2026 at 12:00 noon. No appointment needed. Please bring your valid identity document with you. 

  If you’d rather not risk your replacement poll card arriving late or not at all by post, you can visit the Municipal Desk – we’ll take care of it for you straight away.

Proxy voting (authorising someone to vote for you)

If you can’t vote in person – for example, due to work or illness – you can authorise someone else to vote for you. This is known as proxy voting, and the person casting your vote is called the proxy.

A proxy may vote for a maximum of 2 other voters. This person must cast their own vote at the same time as your vote.

You can authorise someone in 2 ways:

• Using your poll card (informal proxy)
• Using a form and DigiD (written proxy)

Using your poll card (informal proxy)

You can authorise someone by filling in and signing the back of your poll card. The person you authorise must also sign it. The proxy must be registered in Maastricht.

How it works:

1. Fill in the details on the back of your poll card.
2. Sign the back.
3. Ask the proxy to sign the back as well.
4. Give the proxy a copy of your ID or a clear photo of it on their smartphone. Your ID may be up to 5 years expired on election day (so dated 19 March 2021 or later).
5. The proxy votes in Maastricht using your poll card and the copy/photo of your ID. The proxy must also show their own ID at the polling station and cast their own vote at the same time as yours.

If you later decide that you can vote yourself after all, you may still use your own poll card.

Using a form and DigiD (written proxy)

If you cannot vote in person and cannot authorise someone using your poll card, you can apply for a written proxy. The municipality must receive your request by 13 March 2026 at the latest. If your request is approved, the proxy will receive a proxy certificate. This allows them to vote on your behalf.

How to apply for a written proxy

1. Click the ‘Apply for a proxy vote’ button.
2. Fill in your details and ask your proxy to complete their section.
3. Both of you sign the form and upload it as an attachment.
4. The proxy certificate will be sent to the proxy by post.

What must the proxy take to the polling station?

1. the proxy certificate
2. their own valid ID
3. their own poll card

What are the conditions?

1. The proxy must cast your vote at the same time as their own.
2. A proxy may accept no more than 2 proxy votes per election.
3. You cannot withdraw a written proxy once it has been issued.

Voting from abroad

If you are a Dutch voter staying abroad, you can only vote in the municipal elections if you are officially resident in the Netherlands. This means you must be registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP).

If you are unable to vote in person because you are abroad, you can authorise someone else to vote on your behalf (proxy voting).

Blank voting

Would you like to vote, but not choose a party or candidate? You can cast a blank vote by placing an unmarked ballot paper in the ballot box. A blank vote counts towards voter turnout but does not affect the allocation of seats. Visit the Kiesraad website to learn more.