11 MARCH 2003. - Act respecting various amendments to legislation relating to the election of the European Parliament and its annex (1)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
CHAPTER I^er. - General provision
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 78 of the Constitution.
CHAPTER II. - Amendments to the Act of 23 March 1989
on the election of the European Parliament
Art. 2. In Article 21, § 8, paragraph 1^er, of the Act of 23 March 1989 on the election of the European Parliament, inserted by the Act of 25 June 1998 and amended by the Act of 26 June 2000, the words "both holders and substitutes" are inserted between the words "candidates" and the words "engage".
Art. 3. Section 21bis of the Act, inserted by law 24 May 1994 and replaced by the Act of 17 June 2002, is replaced by the following provision:
"Art. 21bis. On each of the lists, neither the difference between the number of candidates holding each sex, nor the difference between the number of alternate candidates of each sex may be greater than one.
Neither the first two incumbent candidates nor the first two alternate candidates from each of the lists can be of the same sex. »
Art. 4. In article 22, paragraph 1^erof the same law, as amended by the Royal Decree of 11 April 1994 and the Law of 26 June 2000, the words "Article 117, paragraph 1^er," are replaced by the words "Article 117, paragraph 1^er to 4."
Art. 5. In section 23, paragraph 1^er, of the same law, as amended by the ordinary law of 16 July 1993 and by the law of 26 June 2000, the words "When several lists are regularly submitted and the number of candidates is higher than that of the members to be elected" are replaced by the words "If the number of effective and alternate candidates is higher than that of the terms to be given".
Art. 6. In article 28, paragraph 3, first sentence, of the same law, as amended by the law of 26 June 2000, the words "in actual terms" are inserted between the word "in isolation" and the word "excedes".
Art. 7. In section 36, paragraph 2, of the Act, replaced by the Act of 11 April 1994 and amended by the Act of 26 June 2000, the 4th is replaced as follows:
"4° in section 172, paragraph 2, third sentence, delete the words "of the electoral district or."
Art. 8. The Model I instructions appear in Schedule I to the same Act, entitled " Instructions for an elector registered in the registers of the population of a Belgian commune", replaced by the Act of 5 April 1995 and amended by the Act of 26 June 2000, are replaced by the instructions set out in Appendix 1 to this Act.
The instructions Model I b set out in Schedule I to the same Act, set out "Assembly Instructions for the elector residing in the territory of another Member State of the European Community", as amended by the Act of 26 June 2000, are replaced by the instructions in Appendix 2 to this Act.
Art. 9. The models of ballot II a, II b, II c and II d annexed to the same Act, replaced by the Act of 26 June 2000, are replaced by the models set out in annex 3 to this Act.
CHAPTER III. - Amendment to the Act of 19 May 1994 on the limitation and control of election expenses incurred for the election of the European Parliament.
Art. 10. In Article 2, § 2, of the Law of 19 May 1994 on the Limitation and Control of Electoral Expenditures for the Election of the European Parliament, as amended by the Laws of 25 June 1998 and 26 June 2000, the following amendments are made:
1° the 3° is replaced as follows:
"3° for each other and for the first alternate candidate, as long as it does not benefit from the provisions of 1°: 10,000 euros; »;
2° on 4°, repealed by the law of 26 June 2000, is reinstated in the following wording:
"4° for each other alternate candidate, provided that he does not benefit from the 1°: 5.000 euros. »
CHAPTER IV. - Amendment to the Act of 17 June 2002 ensuring equal presence of men and women on the lists of candidates for the elections of the European Parliament
Art. 11. Article 3 of the Act of 17 June 2002 ensuring equal representation of men and women on the lists of candidates for the elections of the European Parliament is replaced by the following provision:
“Art. 3. During the first election of the European Parliament after the coming into force of this Act, neither the first three incumbent candidates nor the first three alternate candidates of each of the lists may be of the same sex.
In addition, on each of the lists, neither the difference between the number of candidates holding each sex, nor the difference between the number of alternate candidates of each sex may be greater than one. »
Promulgate this law, order that it be clothed with the seal of the State and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given in Brussels on 11 March 2003.
ALBERT
By the King:
Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
L. MICHEL
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget,
of Social Integration and Social Economy,
J. VANDE LANOTTE
The Minister of the Interior,
A. DUQUESNE
Seal of the state seal:
Minister of Justice,
Mr. VERWILGHEN
____
Note
(1) Regular session 2001-2002.
House of Representatives:
Parliamentary documents. - Bill No. 1807/1. - Opinion of the Council of State, No. 1807/2. - Amendments, no. 1807/3. - Report, no. 1807/4. - Text adopted by the commission, no. 1807/5. - Farde, no. 1807/6. - Text adopted in plenary and transmitted to the Senate, No. 1807/7.
Full report: 20 July, 12, 13 and 25 September 2002.
Regular session 2002-2003.
Senate:
Parliamentary documents. - Project referred to by the Senate, No. 1282/1. - Amendments, No. 1282/2. - Report, no. 1282/3. - Text amended by the Commission, No. 1282/4. - Text amended by the Senate and referred to the House of Representatives, No. 1282/5.
Annales of the Senate: November 28, 2002.
Regular session 2002-2003.
House of Representatives:
Parliamentary documents. - Draft amended by the Senate, No. 1807/8. - Report, no. 1807/9. - Text adopted in plenary and subject to Royal Assent, No. 1807/10.
Full report: 30 January 2003.

Annex 1
Instructions for the elector
Model I a - Instructions for the electors registered in the registers of the population of a Belgian commune.
(See article 23, paragraph 4, of the Act of 23 March 1989 on the election of the European Parliament)
1. Electors are allowed to vote from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, any elector before 1 p.m. in the premises is still allowed to vote.
2. The elector may issue a vote for the European Parliament for one or more candidates, holders or alternates or holders of the same list.
3. The candidates are listed in the same column of the ballot.
The name and first name of candidates for the actual terms of office are registered according to the order of the presentations and are followed, under the mention "Suppliers", of the names and names of the candidates for the plea, also classified in the order of the presentations.
The lists are classified in the ballot in the growing order of the number that was assigned to each of them by lot print. However, incomplete lists may be placed below each other.
4. If the elector adheres to the order of presentation of the incumbent and alternate candidates of the list who has his or her support, he or she fills, by means of the pencil at his disposal, the central clear point of the box placed at the top of that list.
If it adheres only to the order of presentation of the incumbent candidates and wishes to amend the order of presentation of the alternate candidates, it shall give a nominative vote by filling, by means of the pencil at its disposal, the central clear point of the box placed after the candidate(s) alternate(s) for the person(s) which he or she votes.
If it adheres only to the order of presentation of alternate candidates and wishes to amend the order of presentation of the holders, it shall give a nominative vote by completing the central clear point of the box placed after the candidate(s) holder of his or her choice.
If he or she does not adhere to the order of presentation, or to the incumbent candidates, or to the alternate candidates, and wishes to amend that order, he or she shall mark a nominative vote for the applicant(s) and for the alternate candidate(s) of his or her choice of the list that benefits from his or her support.
The electoral figure of a list is the addition of the number of ballots marked at the top of this list and the number of ballots marked in favour of one or more incumbent and/or alternate candidates.
5. After checking the identity card and the letter of summons, the chair of the office shall give the elector a ballot in exchange for his letter of summons.
After stopping his vote, the elector shows to the president his ballot for the European Parliament folded in four right-hand corners, with the stamp on the outside, and deposits it in the ballot box, after stamping his letter of convocation by the president or the delegated assailant; Then he comes out of the room.
In the event of simultaneous elections for the European Parliament and the Walloon Regional Council or the Brussels-Capital Region Council, the elector also receives a ballot for the regional election. He deposits it in the urn intended to receive it, after completing the same formalities.
In the event of simultaneous elections for the European Parliament, the Walloon Regional Council and the Council of the German-speaking Community (communes of the German-speaking region), the elector also receives a ballot for the regional election and a ballot for the community election. They shall be deposited in each of the ballot boxes intended to receive them respectively, after the completion of the same formalities.
Note
For the election of the Council of the German-speaking Community, there are no candidates specially nominated for the petition. The elector expresses his or her vote either by voting at the top of the list which has his or her support, or by giving on this list a nominative vote to one or the candidates of his or her choice. The electoral figure is for each list consisting of the addition of the number of ballots marked in the lead and the number of ballots marked with respect to one or more candidates.
6. The elector can only stop in the cabin-isoloir during the time necessary to issue his vote.
7. You're a fool.
(1) all ballots other than those that were delivered by the President at the time of the vote;
2nd these same ballots:
(a) if the elector did not vote there;
(b) if there has been more than one list vote or nominative votes, either for actual mandates or for suppleance, on different lists;
(c) if there is both a vote at the top of a list and next to the name of one or more candidates, holders and/or alternates of another list;
(d) if there is a vote for one or more candidates holding a list and for one or more alternate candidates from another list;
(e) if the shapes and dimensions have been altered or if they contain any paper or object inside them;
(f) if a rature, sign or mark not authorized by law may make the author of the ballot recognisable.
Note
For the election of the Council of the German-speaking Community point 7, 2°, read as follows:
(a) unchanged;
(b) if there has been more than one list vote;
(c) if there is both a vote at the top of a list and next to the name of one or more candidates from another list;
(d) if there were nominal votes on more than one list;
(e) unchanged;
(f) unchanged.
8. Whoever votes without the right or who votes for others without valid power of attorney is punishable.

Annex 2
Model 1b-b Instructions for the Belgian elector habitually residing in the territory of another Member State of the European Community.
(See Article 17, § 1^er, 4°, of the Act of 23 March 1989 on the election of the European Parliament)
Election of the European Parliament
Ma'am, sir,
The French electoral college must elect ... representatives to the European Parliament.
To this end, we invite you to vote in accordance with the following procedure:
1° The electoral envelope addressed to you contains:
- a reference envelope Declared at the address of the special electoral office in Brussels;
- a neutral B envelope containing the ballot for the French electoral college, duly stamped;
- a formula that you are invited to complete by the indication of your name, first names, date of birth, full address and profession and under which you commit to the honour not to use your right to vote in the State where you reside, to the extent that you have this right.
2° It is up to you to issue your vote on the ballot in neutral envelope B, taking into account the following instructions:
(a) You can issue one or more votes for the allocation of actual mandates and for the suppleance of the same list.
We point out to your particular attention that if you use your right to vote both in Belgium and in the state of your residence, you are liable to imprisonment from eight days to fifteen days and a fine of 26 to 200 euros.
(b) If you adhere to the order of presentation of the incumbent and alternate candidates of the list that has your support, you fill, using a red pencil, the central clear point of the box placed at the top of this list.
If you only subscribe to the order of presentation of the incumbent candidates and wish to amend the order of presentation of the alternates, you give a name vote by completing the central clear point of the box placed after the name of the alternate candidate(s) for the person(s) you wish to express your vote.
If you only subscribe to the order of presentation of alternate candidates and wish to amend the order of presentation of the holders, you give a nominative vote to the candidate(s) holder of your choice.
If you do not adhere to the order of presentation or the holders, or alternates and wish to amend this order, you shall mark a nominative vote for the candidate(s) holder(s) and for the alternate candidate(s) of your choice of the same list.
(c) I don't know.
1. any ballot other than the ballot in the neutral envelope B;
2. this ballot itself:
- if you do not vote on it;
- if you make nominative votes for the actual and/or for the plea, on different lists;
- if you mark more than one list vote;
- if you mark, at the same time, a vote at the top of a list and a vote for one or more candidates, holders and/or alternates, of another list;
- if you mark at the same time a vote for one or more candidates holding a list and for one or more alternate candidates from another list;
- if the shapes and dimensions have been altered or if it contains any paper or object inside it;
- if a rature, sign or mark not authorized by law can make the author of the ballot recognisable.
(d) You are liable to sanctions if you vote while you do not meet the conditions of the electorate.
3° After marking your vote, place the ballot duly folded in the neutral B envelope and close it.
4° Then click separately in the reference envelope. To the neutral B envelope which contains the ballot and the formula referred to in point 1, duly signed and completed by you. Your vote will be cancelled if the ballot is not accompanied by this formula or if it is not duly completed and signed.
5° Reference envelope A must be sent to the special electoral office no later than the day of the election at 1 p.m. After this deadline, your vote will not be taken into consideration.

ANLAGE 2
Muster 1b-c Anweisungen für belgische Wähler, die Ihren gewöhnlichen Wohnort in einem anderen Mitgliedstaat der Europäischen Gemeinschaft haben.
(erwähnt in Artikel 17, § 1, Nr. 4, Gesetzes vom 23. März 1989 über die Wahl des Europäischen Parlaments)
Wahl des Europäischen Parlaments vom
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
das deutschsprachige Wahlkollegium muss die Wahl eines Vertreters ins Europäische Parlament vornehmen.
Zu diesem Zweck bitten wir Sie, Ihre Stimme entsprechend dem nachstehenden Verfahren abzugeben.
1. Der Ihnen zugestellte Wahlmschlag enthält:
- einen Umschlag A für die Rücksendung an den Sonderwahlvorstand mit Sitz in Brüssel,
- einen neutralen Umschlag B mit einem ordnungsgemäss abgestempelten, das deutschsprachige Wahlkollegium betreffenden Stimmzettel,
- ein von Ihnen mit Name, Vornamen, Geburtsdatum, vollständiger Anschrift und Beruf auszufüllendes Formular, mit dem Sie sich auf Ehre verpflichten, von dem Stimmrecht, über das Sie gegebenenfalls in Ihrem Wohnstaat verfügen, ke
2. Auf dem im neutralen Umschlag B befindlichen Stimmzettel können Sie Ihre Stimme unter Berücksichtigung der folgenden Anweisungen abgeben:
(a) Sie dürfen eine oder mehrerere Stimmen für die Zuteilung des ordentlichen Mandats und für die Ersatzkandidaten zugunsten einer selben Liste abgeben.
Wir möchten Sie insbesondere darauf aufmerksam machen, dass Sie sich einer Gefängnisstrafe von acht bis fünfzehn Tagen und einer Geldstrafe von 26 bis 200 Euro aussetzen, falls Sie sowohl in Belgien als auch in Ihrem Wohnstaat von Ihrem Stimmrecht
(b) Wenn Sie mit der Vorschlagsreihenfolge des ordentlichen Kandidaten und der Ersatzkandidaten der von Ihnen unterstützen List einverstanden sind, dann füllen Sie bitte den hellen Punkt in der Mitte des Kopffeldes dieser List mit einem roten Bleistift aus.
Wenn Sie die Vorschlagsreihenfolge der Ersatzkandidaten ändern möchten, dann geben Sie eine Vorzugsstimme ab, indem Sie den hellen Punkt in der Mitte des Feldes hinter dem Namen des oder der Ersatzkandidaten ausfüllen, dem
Es steht Ihnen ebenfalls frei, dem ordentlichen Kandidaten Ihrer Wahl eine Vorzugsstimme zu geben.
(c) Ungültig ist:
1. jeder Stimmzettel, der nicht der im neutralen Umschlag B befindliche Stimmzettel, ist,
2. Salbst dieser Stimmzettel :
- wenn Sie darauf keine Stimme abgeben,
- wenn Sie Vorzugsstimmen für ordentliche Kandidaten und/oder Ersatzkandidaten auf unterschiedlichen Listen abgeben,
- wenn Sie mehr als eine Listenstimme abgeben,
- wenn Sie gleichzeitig eine Kopfstimme und eine Vorzugsstimme für den ordentlichen Kandidaten und/ oder für einen oder mehrerere Ersatzkandidaten einer anderen List abgeben,
- wenn Sie eine Vorzugsstimme für den ordentlichen Kandidaten einer Liste und für einem oder mehrere Ersatzkandidaten einer anderen Liste abgeben,
- wenn dessen Form und dessen Abmessungen geändert worden sind oder er innen ein Paper oder irgendeinen Gegenstand enthält,
- wenn eine Streichung, ein Zeichen oder eine vom Gesetz nicht erlaubte Markierung auf den Wähler schliessen lassen könnte.
(d) Sie machen sich strafbar, falls Sie wählen, ohne die Wahlberechtigungsbedingungen zu erfüllen.
3. Nachdem Sie Ihre Stimme abgegeben haben, falten Sie den Stimmzettel wieder ordnungsgemäss zusammen, legen ihn in den neutralen Umschlag B und verschliessen diesen.
4. Nun stecken Sie einerseits den neutralen Umschlag B mit dem Stimmzettel und andererseits das ordnungsgemäss von Ihnen ausgefüllte und unterzenete, in Nr. 1 erwähnte Formular in den für die Rücksendung bestimmten Umschlag
5. Der für die Rücksendung bestimmte Umschlag A muss spätestens am Tag der Wahl um 13 Uhr beim Sonderwahlvorstand eingehen. Nach Ablauf dieser Frist wird Ihre Stimme nicht mehr berücksichtigt.

Annex 3
For the consultation of the table, see image