Who can vote in Slovenia, and can foreigners vote too?
Every adult Slovenian citizen with legal capacity may vote, EU citizens resident here may vote in local and European elections, and the right of third-country nationals in local elections became contested in 2026. The general right to vote comes from the Constitution (Article 43), with the detail in the electoral laws. A Slovenian citizen who has turned 18 and has not been deprived of legal capacity votes in parliamentary, presidential, local and European elections and in referendums. A citizen of another EU state with registered residence votes in local and European elections and is entered in the register automatically. Here honesty about the uncertainty is due: on 15 June 2026 the National Assembly passed an amendment removing the right of third-country nationals with permanent residence to vote in local elections, but a referendum initiative was filed and a constitutional review announced, so the final effect is not settled. The myth that "anyone who lives here can vote in everything" is false – the scope of the right depends on citizenship.
📋 The rules
- The general right to vote under the Constitution belongs to every citizen who has turned 18 and has not been deprived of legal capacity.
- A Slovenian citizen votes in all types of election – parliamentary, presidential, local, European – and in referendums.
- A citizen of another EU state with registered residence in Slovenia votes in local and European elections.
- Entry in the electoral register is generally automatic for those eligible when they register their residence.
- The June 2026 amendment to the local elections act removes the vote of third-country nationals in local elections, but it is being challenged.
🔓 Exceptions
- A person deprived of legal capacity in a way that affects the right to vote does not have the right to vote under the statutory conditions.
- Third-country nationals could not stand as candidates, but until now had the right to vote for members of the municipal council; that right is contested by the 2026 amendment.
- A referendum or the Constitutional Court may decide on the possible suspension or annulment of the 2026 amendment, so the situation is transitional.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
With voting rights there is no fine for someone who does not go to vote – turnout in Slovenia is not compulsory, so the myth of a penalty for not voting is false. The "penalties" appear on the other side: electoral fraud, double voting, voting in someone else's name or forging ballots are criminal offences under the Criminal Code, prosecuted ex officio. Anyone who votes without the right to vote, or tries to enter the register without meeting the conditions, risks prosecution and the annulment of the vote. For voters from third countries the biggest uncertainty is the transitional situation: the June 2026 amendment removes their right, but a referendum initiative and an announced constitutional review seek to suspend or annul it, so before an election it is wise to check the rules in force and your entry in the electoral register. A wrong assumption about the scope of the right can mean someone is left without a ballot at the polling station, or that their vote does not count.
📎 Official sources
- PISRS · legislation register (Constitution of RS and National Assembly Elections Act) →
- National Electoral Commission · the right to vote and the register →
- e-uprava · elections, referendums and local elections →
❓ Frequently asked
At what age do I get the right to vote?
You get the general right to vote under the Constitution when you turn 18, provided you have not been deprived of legal capacity. As an adult citizen you may vote in parliamentary, presidential, local and European elections and in referendums.
Can foreigners vote?
Citizens of other EU states with registered residence in Slovenia may vote in local and European elections. For third-country nationals with permanent residence, the right to vote in local elections is contested and challenged following the amendment of June 2026.
Is voting compulsory?
No, turnout at elections in Slovenia is not compulsory, so there is no fine if you do not go to vote. The persistent myth of a monetary penalty for not voting is false, because voting is a right and not a duty enforced by the state.
How am I entered in the electoral register?
For those eligible, entry in the electoral register is generally automatic when they register their residence, so no separate application is needed. Before an election it is still sensible to check that you are correctly entered and for which types of election.
What changed for foreigners in 2026?
In June 2026 the National Assembly passed an amendment removing the right of third-country nationals with permanent residence to vote in local elections. Because a referendum initiative was filed and a constitutional review announced, the final effect of the amendment is not yet settled.
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