Elections in Sønderborg Municipality

Elections in Sønderborg Municipality

Here you will find general information about the conduct of elections in Sønderborg Municipality. Information about candidates and specific dates will appear on this page when an election has been called.

What types of elections are held?

In Denmark, elections to the Danish Parliament, the European Parliament, and municipal and regional council elections are held regularly. In addition, referendums on specific issues may occur.

Sønderborg Municipality is responsible for the practical handling of these elections locally. The date for an upcoming election is always published in the press and here on the website as soon as it is known.

Who can I vote for?

Which parties and candidates you can vote for depends on the specific election.

Candidate lists and party names are published prior to the election. You will be able to find out in the daily press, on the parties' own websites or via the voting card you receive in the mail.

On election day, an overview of all nominated parties and candidates will be displayed in the ballot box.

Postal vote

You always have the option to vote by mail before an election if you are unable to attend on election day, or simply want to vote at an earlier time.

When and how do I vote by mail?

You can typically vote by mail at any Citizen Service Center in Denmark from 6 weeks before election day until the last Friday before the election.

You do not need to make an appointment to vote by mail, but you must remember to bring valid identification (health card, passport or driver's license).

In Sønderborg Municipality you can vote by mail at Citizen Service in Sønderborg, Nordborg and Gråsten during normal opening hours. Up until an election there will often be extended opening hours – these will be announced on this page as the election approaches.

You can see the current opening hours and addresses for Citizen service here.

Can I vote from home (mail vote in my own home)?

If, due to illness or lack of mobility, you are unable to appear at the polling station or at Citizen Service, you can apply to vote by mail in your own home.

There will be an application deadline prior to each election. The dates for when you can apply will be announced on the website once the election has been announced.

If you are eligible to vote in your own home, two election officials will visit you at an agreed time so you can cast your vote.

Do you live in a nursing home or are you hospitalized?

Care centers:
If you live in a care center, arrangements will be made for you to vote by mail at the care center on certain days leading up to the election. The staff at the facility will inform you of the times.

Hospitals:
If you are admitted to a hospital, you can get help with voting from the staff/patient counselors who act as postal ballot recipients.

Polling stations

Where should I vote on election day?

There are 17 polling stations in Sønderborg Municipality. Your exact polling station will be indicated on the polling card you receive in the mail approximately 5 days before the election.

You can also find your polling place using Sønderborg Municipality's interactive map of polling stations (opens in a new window).

Special conditions for disabled people:
At the Kongevej polling station in Sønderborg, there are special aids for people with disabilities (raising/lowering tables, CCTV, etc.). If you wish to use this polling station, but belong to another district, you can apply to be transferred. See more under the "Assistive aids" section.

Can I change my polling place?

If you have a disability or reduced mobility, you have the opportunity to apply to be transferred to a different polling place in the municipality than the one you are associated with.

Applications for transfer must be made within a certain period before the election. Contact Citizens' Service on tel. 88 72 40 06 to find out more or to receive an application form when an election has been announced.

Aids for selection

Sønderborg Municipality provides various aids to ensure that everyone can participate in the election regardless of disability or reduced mobility.

Aids for postal voting

At all postal voting locations (Citizen Service) there is a magnifying glass and a felt-tip pen (CCTV is available in Sønderborg).

In the Citizens' Service in Sønderborg, there will also be a handicap-friendly voting box, a CCTV magnifier and a height-adjustable table with free legroom so that a wheelchair user can sit at the table.

Aids on election day

At all 17 polling stations in Sønderborg Municipality, there are handicap-friendly ballot boxes equipped with a magnifying glass and a felt-tip pen.

At the polling place, Kongevej - Sønderborg, there will also be a voting booth with a CCTV magnifier and a height-adjustable table with free legroom.

You can also always ask for help from the election officials (the election officials) to mark your ballot if you need it.

Read more about voting assistance and assistive devices (PDF)

Practical information

Election card

Voting cards will be sent out no later than 5 days before election day to your national register address.

If you have not received your voting card before the election, or if you have lost it, you can still vote. You just need to show up at your polling station and bring valid identification (passport, driver's license or health card).

Who can vote (Suffrage)?

The rules for who can vote vary depending on the election in question.

In general, you must:

• Be over 18 years old
• Have permanent residence in Denmark (special rules apply to Danes living abroad in the context of parliamentary and EP elections)

Citizenship:

• Parliamentary elections: Requires Danish citizenship.
• Municipal and Regional Council Elections: You can also vote here if you are an EU citizen, a citizen of Iceland/Norway, or if you have lived in the kingdom continuously for the last 4 years prior to the election.
• European Parliament elections: Requires Danish citizenship or citizenship of another EU country (if you live in Denmark).

Election posters - when can they be hung up?

There are fixed rules for hanging election posters in public spaces:

• Election posters may not be hung up until 12:00 noon on the 4th Saturday before election day.
• Election posters must be taken down no later than 8 days after the election at the end of the day.

The posters must not exceed 0,8 m² and must be hung up securely so that they do not obstruct traffic or visibility. The detailed rules on hanging election posters can be found in the road legislation. Read more at the Danish Road Directorate.