Who has the right to vote in elections in Croatia?
Conditional — every Croatian citizen has universal, equal suffrage, but subject to age and the type of election. Under the Constitution and the Register of Voters Act the right to vote belongs to a Croatian citizen who has turned 18. Here a common myth falls: you do not have to "register" specially to vote — every citizen resident in Croatia is automatically entered in the register of voters, and it is enough to come to the polling station with an identity card. Citizens of other EU member states are not left out: they may vote in local elections and European Parliament elections, but not in parliamentary or presidential ones, and for that they must actively register in the register of voters at least 30 days before the election. Croatian citizens without residence in Croatia (the diaspora) also vote, on prior entry according to their place abroad. No one may vote twice or in place of another person.
📋 The rules
- Age and citizenship: the right to vote belongs to a Croatian citizen who has turned 18 (Constitution, Register of Voters Act).
- Automatic entry: a citizen resident in Croatia is automatically in the register of voters — no special registration is needed, just an identity card at the polling station.
- EU citizens: they vote only in local and European Parliament elections, on a request for entry in the register at least 30 days before the election.
- Diaspora: Croatian citizens without residence in Croatia vote on prior entry according to their place of residence abroad.
- Checking data: a voter may check and request correction of their data in the register of voters at the competent administrative body.
🔓 Exceptions
- Type of election: EU citizens do not vote in elections for the Croatian Parliament or in presidential elections.
- Legal capacity: the right to vote is not lost automatically on deprivation of legal capacity — the scope is decided by a court in each case.
- Missed deadline: if an EU citizen misses the 30-day deadline to register, they cannot vote at that election.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no fine for not voting, because voting in Croatia is not compulsory, but abuse of the right to vote is punished. Double voting, voting in place of another person or with someone else's documents is a criminal offence against electoral rights and brings criminal liability. A hidden trap lies in incorrect data in the register: a wrong address or an unregistered change of residence can put you at the wrong polling station or temporarily leave you off the list, so on election day you are left without a vote. EU citizens who miss the 30-day deadline to register lose the chance to vote at that election, regardless of living here. It therefore pays to check your entry in the register of voters in advance and, if needed, request a correction at the competent administrative department before the register closes.
📎 Official sources
- zakon.hr — Register of Voters Act →
- gov.hr — EU citizens: voting in Croatia →
- State Electoral Commission — elections and voting rights →
❓ Frequently asked
Must I register in order to vote?
If you are a Croatian citizen resident in Croatia, you need not, because you are automatically entered in the register of voters. It is enough on election day to come to your polling station with a valid identity card or passport.
Can citizens of other EU states vote in Croatia?
They can, but only in local elections and European Parliament elections, not in parliamentary or presidential ones. For that they must actively register in the register of voters at least 30 days before the election is held.
At what age is the right to vote acquired?
The right to vote is acquired at the age of 18, subject to Croatian citizenship. Someone who turns eighteen by election day may also vote at that election, while a minor under 18 has no vote regardless of being employed or married.
Do Croatian citizens living abroad vote?
Yes, Croatian citizens without residence in Croatia have the right to vote, but on prior entry in the register of voters according to their place of residence abroad. They vote at diplomatic and consular missions or in another prescribed way.
How do I check whether I am in the register of voters?
You can check the entry at the competent administrative department according to your residence or through the register of voters service. If the data are not correct, you may request their correction, supplement or deletion before the register is closed for a given election.
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