The Brussels Local Government Regional Public Service is indicating that no less than 100,789 Brusselers did not go to their local polling station on Sunday. The Capital region’s rate of absenteeism was 16.47%, a slight decrease compared to the 2012 municipal election (17.13%).
In total, 534,539 people fulfilled their citizen duty out of the 635,328 voters registered in the 19 communes. This figure includes European residents registered on electoral lists. Amongst those going to the ballot box, 502,738 people posted a valid vote, whilst 31,771 others submitted a blank or null and void ballot paper. In total, 5.94% of votes were not valid, a slight increase on 2012 (up by 0.26%).
Communes recording the highest rates of absenteeism were Sint-Josse-ten-Node (20.96%), Ixelles (17.64%) and the City of Brussels (17.15%). Conversely, in terms of absenteeism, the populations of the communes of Auderghem (12.49%), Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (12.64%) and Watermael-Boitsfort (12.87%) were the most mobilized in voting on Sunday.
The largest share of non-valid votes was recorded in the communes of Evere (8.67%), Ganshoren (7.81%) and Koekelberg (7.66%), as opposed to Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (with 3.34%), Watermael-Boitsfort (with 3.91%) and Uccle (4.49%).
The Brussels Times
