Around The World
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GLOBAL RESIDENT VOTING TABLE and TIMELINE The following is a partial list of nations in which varying jurisdictions have passed laws permitting noncitizens to cast ballots in the years indicated. Bulgaria (2005): EU nationals granted right to vote in local elections Estonia (2004): Russian-speaking minority with permanent resident status granted voting rights in local elections Italy (2004): immigrants allowed to vote for four nonvoting members of Rome city council and one nonvoting seat at each of 19 district councils Belgium (2004): local elections Luxembourg (2003): local voting rights passed. no nationality restrictions Austria (2002): local elections in Vienna Slovakia (2002): local voting rights for 3-year residents Slovenia (2002): local voting rights for 3-year residents Lithuania (2002): EU nationals granted local voting rights Czech Republic (2001): voting rights in local elections approved for EU nationals Bolivia (1994): changed constitution to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections (not yet implemented) Colombia (1991):changed constitution to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections (not yet implemented) Barbados (1990): citizens of British Commonwealth can vote in national elections Hungary (1990): local elections for permanent residents (revised 2004 to limit to EU nationals) Germany (1989): states of Schleswig-Holstein approved local voting rights for Danish, Irish, Norse, Dutch, Swedish, and Swiss 5-year residents; state of Hamburg approved local voting for 8-year residents; West Berlin passed local voting for 5-year residents. All were struck down by constitutional court in 1990. Chile (1989): local and national elections Iceland (1986): 3-year residents from Nordic Union citizens can vote in local elections Spain (1985): local elections Australia (1984): repealed 1947 legislation but grandfathered those registered before 1984 Venezuela (1983): 10-year residents can vote in local and state elections Finland (1981): Nordic Union citizens can vote in local elections (expanded in 1991 to all 4-year residents) Netherlands (1979): Local elections in Rotterdam (expanded nationwide in 1985) Norway (1978): local elections for Nordic Union (expanded in 1995 for 3-year residents) Denmark (1977): local elections for Nordic Union (expanded in 1981 for all foreign residents) Portugal (1976): national and some local elections (expanded 1997 to all 3-year residents) Sweden (1975): local and regional elections, plus some national referenda New Zealand (1975): local and national elections Ireland (1963): local elections (expanded 1984 to remove 6-month residency requirement and to allow British citizens the vote on the national level) Uruguay (1952): national elections for 15-year residents Israel (1950): local elections for Jewish residents only Australia (1947): national and local for British nationals only United Kingdom (1948): national elections for Commonwealth and Irish citizens Switzerland (1849): 5-year residents in Neuchatel canton (expanded in 1979 for 10-year residents in Jura canton) Canada (date n/a): Commonwealth citizens only Brazil (date n/a): Portuguese citizens only Cape Verde (date n/a): Portuguese citizens only Belize (date n/a): national and local voting rights for three-year residents Additional jurisdictions: European Union (1992): reciprocal local and European Parliament elections for all member nations Nordic Union (1970s): local elections Hong Kong: permanent residents are granted local voting rights Failed or stalled initiatives: Japan (2000): legislation considered to supercede 1995 supreme court ruling against noncitizen voting rights, but did not pass Latvia (2000) France (1981 and 2000) Source: The Immigrant Voting Project |
(Mostly In French) The Suffrage Universal website contains a wealth of information on resident voting rights around the world. This is an archive of the summaries produced by the Immigrant Voting Project, with support from New York University Law Students for Human Rights (2006-7) _________________________ |