The Green Party believes strongly in the right of residents to share responsibility for their neighborhoods and in their access to power including the right to vote. The Greens have prepared a two-page, non-partisan leaflet that explains how to register at a local town-hall and how to vote. EU citizens need to register with their local town hall (borough hall in larger cities, including Prague) by October 18th, and they need to bring their residency permit with them to the polling station on the election day.

The governments of Czech cities are based on the tradition of Magdeburg law, where citizens elect relatively large city councils (Prague has 70 council members), who then elect a mayor from within the council. The election system is proportional, and a voter can either vote for a single political party or check as many people on the ballot across party lines as there are seats are being filled.

Local councils make decisions on a wide range of issues affecting foreign residents, including zoning, education, kindergartens, parks, public transportation, accommodation, and construction permits. They also oversee the sale and rent of city property.

Petr Stepanek, Deputy Chairman of the Green Party and a councillor in Prague 4, says, "Citizens of other countries have gotten used to living here with limited rights. Fortunately, this situation is changing. In addition the rights guaranteed under the Czech constitution, EU citizens now have the right to vote. The Greens strongly believe in shared responsibility in communities, and we have long supported extending the right to vote to non-citizens. We urge EU citizens to join Czechs on Election Day to get the best local councils possible."

Questions regarding voter registration for EU citizens can be directed to petr.stepanek@zeleni.cz or at 608 702 154.

Petr Stepanek
Deputy Chairman of the Green Party