Why vote Connect Wageningen on the 21st of March?

Connect Wageningen is a new political party by youth, students, internationals and newcomers in Wageningen, for everybody in Wageningen. Connect Wageningen was founded by Mark Reijerman to realize a better reflection of the inhabitants of Wageningen in the city council. Although 30 % of Wageningen is student and Wageningen has about 100 different nationalities, these groups have been less considered in decision-making by the city council in Wageningen the last couples of years and need some proper representation. For this reason, we want to get some students, internationals and young professionals in the city council and realize an inclusive, sustainable and better Wageningen for everybody. Vote Connect Wageningen on the 21^st of March.

Am I eligible to vote in the municipality in Wageningen?

You are eligible to vote in the municipality elections in Wageningen on the 21^st of March if you are: 1) older than 18, 2) registered in Wageningen and 3) either from a EU member state or are living in the Netherlands for at least 5 years. Not sure if you can vote? Go to: www.canivote.nl to check!

How do I vote?

If you are eligible to vote, then your name will appear on the voter registry of Wageningen and you will automatically receive your voting pass (it’s called a stemkaart) before the elections. In the Netherlands, all votes are cast on paper or electronic voting boots that are found in special polling stations. To be able to vote, you need to visit a polling station on the 21st of March. The polling station in Wageningen can be found on this site (http://wageningen.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7245cb696cd744d899cf0c79c5ad777f). The most common polling station for students to vote at is at the Forum building on campus. In order to prove that you are eligible to vote, you have to bring the following: Your voting pass and a proof of identity, such as a passport or ID. This document may be expired a maximum of 5 years (valid until 22 March 2012 or later). Polling stations are open from 7:30 to 21:00 on election day. All votes must be cast in person at these stations.

What if I’m not here? How do I let somebody else vote for me?

If you are unable to visit a polling station on election day you can have someone else cast your vote for you. You will need to arrange for a proxy voter in advance. There are two ways that you can authorize someone else to vote on your behalf: by authorizing a proxy voter directly on your voting pass or by submitting a written request for proxy voter authorization. The first way is the easy way: on the back of the voting pass you fill in your data and both you and your proxy voter sign at the bottom. Your proxy voter will take both the voting pass and a copy of your passport or ID to the polling station to cast your vote. The second way is to submit a written request for proxy voter authorization by filling out the form you can download by clicking the word ‘volmacht’ at the this site: https://www.wageningen.nl/Bestuur/Verkiezingen.

Why vote as an international?

If you live in a dutch city, it is your city too! The municipality plays an important role on issues such as traffic (bike, car, public transportation), leisure (sports, bars, cultural events) and facilities (expat centre, international education, public information). Different political parties have varying views on how these topics should be prioritized. There are also large ideological differences on how parties view topics such as immigration, sustainability and the European Union. You have a say in this, your vote shapes the future not only for you but all the other internationals who will start living in Wageningen.