Dutch head to polls in local elections

On Wednesday morning, polling stations in 394 of the Netherlands’ 431 municipalities opened their doors for municipal elections.

Some of the 37 remaining local governments saw elections in November last year, following municipal redistricting. Others will hold elections later this year.

In The Hague, Rotterdam and Groningen, people were able to vote at a single polling station as early as midnight. A total of 8,867 council seats are up for grabs.

More than 12 million people have received ballots to participate in Wednesday’s elections.

Turnout predicted to be low

The turnout in the last local elections, held in 2006, was 58.6 percent. In the same year, 80.35 percent of all voters cast their ballots in the national election. A research agency has predicted this year’s elections would have a record low turnout of 45 percent.

While national parties dominate the municipal elections, many cities boast local parties as well. The Hague has the largest number of parties competing: 20. Amsterdam comes in second with 19. In four municipalities, as little as three parties have registered.

Labour was the big winner of 2006’s local elections, winning 900 extra seats nationwide, almost double the amount it garnered in 2002. Labour looks set to lose most of its 2006 gains this year. It standing in the polls however, has improved somewhat since it pulled the plug on the national coalition government a week and a half ago.

The Christian democratic CDA, the party of prime-minister Jan Peter Balkenende did poor in 2006 but will probably win little this time around. If the CDA loses heavily, it could start a discussion about Balkenende’s leadership of the party.

The Socialist Party won heavily in 2006, doubling its total number of seats all over the country. Polls predict it will be reduced to close to its 2002 standing in Wednesday’s elections.

Left-wing liberal D66 is expected to be one of the big winners. The party has been steadily declining since 1994 and currently holds only 3 percent of all municipal council seats, but it looks set to turn the tide this year.

PVV only competing in two cities

Geert Wilders’ populist PVV party will only be competing in two municipalities: Almere and The Hague. Predictions are he will do very well in both cities.

After an unsuccessful bout with voting computers, most of the Netherlands has returned to old fashioned paper and pencil. Bruynzeel, a Dutch manufacturer of art supplies, has delivered 80,000 red pencils to polling stations. They will be reused in the early national elections on June 9.

Dutch state broadcaster NOS will offer a first prediction of national results at 9:30 this evening. Definitive results for larger municipalities will not be known until Thursday morning.