PROVINCE OF UTRECHT – In Woudenberg, Montfoort and Utrecht, politicians are vying for a seat on the city council. Of all Utrecht municipalities, the most candidate councilors can be elected per seat in these three, according to data press agency ANP/LocalFocus.
A total of 4,234 people have applied for a place on the local electoral lists in the province of Utrecht. In the ‘dance of chairs’ for the available 644 seats, 3,590 candidates will therefore lose out. In more than half of the municipalities, an elected councilor must leave at least five competitors behind.
Woudenberg has fifteen council seats to allocate in the elections in March. There are no fewer than 168 names on the ballot, which is 11 per seat. In Montfoort and Utrecht, 10 candidates have applied for each seat. The competition is lowest in IJsselstein. There, 90 people are competing for the 23 available seats, about four per seat.
You have the most choice in the municipality of Utrecht. There you can choose from 450 names, of which only 45 will eventually remain. Residents of Eemnes don’t have to think for long. Only 59 candidates are eligible for 13 seats, the equivalent of 4.5 per seat.
Houten, Leusden and Rhenen more seats
The number of seats a municipality has depends on the number of inhabitants. In our region, only Utrecht has the maximum number of 45. Due to population growth, three Utrecht municipalities will expand their council chambers from March. Houten goes from 29 to 31 seats, Leusden from 21 to 23 and Rhenen from 17 to 19.
In the Netherlands, 54,994 candidate councilors are up for election on 14, 15 and 16 March. The number of council seats across the country is set at 8,235.
More election news and other information can be found in our UKiest file.
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