Artikel 53: Proportional representation; secret ballot

Artikel 53
  1. The members of both Houses shall be elected by proportional representation within the limits to be laid down by Act of Parliament.
  2. Elections shall be by secret ballot.

In andere talen:

English

  1. The members of both Houses shall be elected by proportional representation within the limits to be laid down by Act of Parliament.
  2. Elections shall be by secret ballot.

Français

  1. Les membres des deux Chambres sont élus sur la base de la représentation proportionnelle dans des limites à établir par la loi.
  2. Les élections se font par voie de scrutin secret.

Deutsch

  1. Die Mitglieder beider Kammern werden auf der Grundlage des Verhältniswahlrecht innerhalb der durch Gesetz festzulegenden Grenzen gewählt.
  2. Die Wahlen sind geheim.

Español

  1. Los miembros de ambas Cámaras son elegidos sobre la base de la representación proporcional dentro de los limites que la ley establezca.
  2. Las elecciones se realizan por votación secreta.

Explanation

Please note: Only the Dutch-language version of the Constitution has legal effect. 

Elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate are held on the basis of proportional representation within limits set by law. This means that the legislature is not required to strive for absolute proportionality. A system with separate constituencies or an electoral threshold is therefore possible. Until 1983, for example, members of the Senate were elected by four separate groups of Provincial Councils. This is regulated in the Electoral Act.

In addition, the fundamental principle that elections are secret is included. When it became apparent that voting machines could be eavesdropped on, the government decided in 2007 to revert to manual voting using ballot papers and a red pencil.