D66 Secures Largest Vote Share in Dutch Election, Despite Counting Irregularities
Teh Hague, Netherlands – preliminary results confirm D66 as the largest party in the recent Dutch election, surpassing the Party for Freedom (PVV) by 29,668 votes. While the overall count is deemed reliable, election observer Jan Kuijken highlighted ongoing issues with speed and transparency in reporting results, as well as isolated incidents of incorrect ballot papers.
Kuijken affirmed the counting process itself is generally reliable, noting a meaningful reduction in errors from over 14,000 in 2021 to 7,766 this year. However, he stressed that human error remains a factor.
Concerns were raised regarding the municipalities of Westerwolde (Groningen) and Stein (Limburg), where a total of 261 invalid ballots were used due to a supplier error – incorrect ballot papers from a different constituency were distributed.”Very sad for the voters concerned, who sincerely believed that they had cast a valid vote,” Kuijken stated. The Electoral Act mandates voting for candidates within one’s own district, rendering these votes invalid.
Kuijken also criticized the delayed publication of polling station reports, specifically citing Amsterdam’s late release. “The law says: without delay,” he emphasized,meaning results shoudl be published immediately. He further cautioned municipalities against releasing partial results to the ANP news agency, wich led to multiple adjustments and “unrest.” Kuijken urged municipalities and media to establish clear agreements regarding the presentation of provisional counts, stating, “Extremely careful handling…is really critically important. Or else, a misunderstanding or a wrong impression can easily arise.”
