Nearly 50,000 Dutch expats sign up to vote

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Almost 50,000 Dutch expats who live abroad have signed up to vote in the September 12 general election.

In total, 48,291 out of the estimated 500,000 Dutch nationals with voting rights abroad registered before the August 1 deadline. This is up 2,000 on the June 2010 general election.

Dutch expats hit the headlines this year when the government decided to go ahead with legislation to restrict dual nationality. The new law would mean Dutch nationals who take a second nationality will also automatically lose their Dutch passports.

One Dutch expat, who also holds American nationality, is standing for election for the Liberal democrats D66. Eelco Keij led the campaign against the dual nationality restrictions earlier this year.

© DutchNews.nl