How to apply for a voter card and vote outside your place of residence

The right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and every citizen of the Czech Republic has the opportunity to participate in shaping political life. In practice, however, it is not always the case that a person is at home in his or her place of residence at the time of an election. He or she may be on a business trip, on holiday, studying in another city for a long period of time or living abroad for part of the year. In such cases, a solution is offered in the form of an electoral card. This document allows you to vote outside of your permanent residence, in any polling station in the Czech Republic or at an embassy abroad.

The legislation on voter cards is based on electoral laws that reflect modern methods of application, including the possibility of using the data box or the Citizen Portal. In this way, the State responds to the demands of citizens who want to settle their affairs quickly and without having to visit the office in person. The application for a voter ID card is becoming easier to process, yet it has its own rules, deadlines and conditions that need to be met.

Tip: For the elections on Friday 3 October and Saturday 4 October, the latest you can apply for a card is:

• for a written or online application: by 4pm on Friday 26 September (7 days before the first day of polling),
• for an in-person application at the office: by 16:00 on Wednesday 1 October (2 days before the election)

When to apply for an electoral card

An electoral card is required when a person decides to vote outside his or her place of residence. Typically, this is when the voter is in a different city from where he or she is registered as a permanent resident or is planning to travel during the election. Without a voter ID card, the Electoral Commission would not allow him or her to vote in a foreign precinct. It is therefore impossible to vote in another city without this document.

The card can be used in all types of national elections – i.e. elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, presidential elections and European Parliament elections. In municipal elections, the electoral card is not issued because the right to vote is firmly linked to a specific municipality and the electoral district cannot be “transferred”.

Special attention should also be paid to elections held in two rounds, such as senatorial or presidential elections. If a voter applies for a card, he or she always receives one valid for both rounds of elections. He or she does not therefore have to deal with the application twice, which is particularly practical if he or she knows that he or she will not be able to attend either the first or any second round.

How to apply for an electoral card

There are several ways to apply for a voter card. The basic option is to visit the municipal office of the place of residence in person, where the citizen fills in a form and is issued with a card. This option is suitable for those who have an office nearby and want to have the document processed immediately.

The second option is to apply for a voter card in writing. It can be sent by post and must bear a certified signature. The office will then issue the card and send it back to the address given by the voter, or it can be handed over to another person if they are authorised in writing to do so.

The third option is a modern application for a voter card via the data box or the Citizen’s Portal. This option has become increasingly popular in recent years as it saves time and eliminates the need to verify signatures. The citizen simply fills in an online form and the office then sends the card by registered mail or delivers it in their own hands.

It is important to stress that another person can also submit the application on behalf of the voter, but always with a duly certified power of attorney. This is useful, for example, for elderly people who find it difficult to get around or for people staying abroad for a long time.

When is the latest time to apply for a voter card?

The deadlines for applying for a voter card are strictly set by law and it is crucial to meet them. If a voter applies late, the office cannot issue the card. Written applications received by post or electronically via a data box must be submitted at least 7 days before the election. This means that if the election takes place on a Friday and Saturday, the last day for submission is the previous Friday.

It is possible to submit applications in person at the local authority, but the deadline is the Wednesday before 4pm before the election. However, especially in the run-up to the election, offices can be busy and delays can mean you don’t get your card in time.

If you plan to vote abroad, you should also think about postal delivery times, which can vary considerably between destinations. The advice from lawyers and authorities is therefore clear: apply for your polling card as soon as you know you will not be at home at the time of the election. This will avoid unnecessary stress and the risk of losing your chance to vote.

How much does it cost?

One of the most common questions voters ask is whether there is any charge for a voter card. The answer is simple and citizen-friendly: the voter card is free. The municipality has no right to charge any administrative fee and the service is provided purely in the exercise of the right to vote. This ensures equality for all citizens and does not discriminate on the basis of financial means.

Of course, any costs indirectly related to the processing of the application must be taken into account. If you apply in writing by post, you pay the cost of sending the letter by registered post. If you choose to collect your licence from the office in person, you may incur travel costs. However, these costs cannot be compared with the obligation to pay a fee for the issue of the card itself. Legally, the service is clearly free of charge.

The importance of this regulation is crucial. Voting is a fundamental right and the state must ensure that all citizens, regardless of their financial situation, are able to participate. If the electoral card were to be made subject to a fee, this might in practice discourage certain groups of voters, which would be contrary to the principles of democracy.

How to use your electoral card

Once a voter has a voter card in his or her hand, the door is open to vote in any polling station in the Czech Republic. This applies to elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the President and the European Parliament. However, for Senate elections, the card can only be used to vote in the constituency where the election is called.

All you have to do is go to the polling station, present your ID card or passport, and present your voter card with it. The Electoral Commission will retain the document and the voter will then receive the ballot papers as if he or she had voted at the place of residence.

In the case of elections to the Chamber of Deputies abroad, you must go to the relevant embassy or consular office. There, the procedure is the same – you present your ID and voter card, then receive your ballot papers and withdraw. You should take into account that there are usually fewer polling stations in foreign offices, so you may have to travel for several hours. Nevertheless, this is the only legal way to vote abroad. You cannot vote abroad for Senate, presidential or regional/municipal elections

And what happens if a voter loses or has their ID stolen? In this case, it is not possible to obtain a new card and therefore not be able to vote. We therefore recommend that you handle the document with the utmost care and store it safely.

From 2025, Czechs abroad can also vote by correspondence. They place their ballot in a smaller envelope, which is then placed in a larger envelope with their identification card. This system ensures that the vote is both secret and verified.

Summary

A voter’s card is a document that allows a citizen of the Czech Republic to vote outside his or her place of permanent residence – either in another city in the Czech Republic or abroad at an embassy. It is required for all national elections (Parliament, Senate, President, European Parliament), and for elections with two rounds it is always valid for both. The card can be applied for in person at the municipal office, in writing with a certified signature, or electronically via the data box or the Citizen’s Portal, and the application can also be submitted by an authorised person with a power of attorney. The deadlines are strict – written and electronic application no later than 7 days before the election, personal application by Wednesday 16 hours before the election. The issue of the card is free of charge, the citizen only pays for any postage costs or travel to the office. When voting, the voter presents his/her identity card and electoral card, on the basis of which he/she receives ballot papers; abroad, the procedure is similar at the consulate. The loss of the card cannot be replaced and must therefore be handled with care.