How to Vote in the Czech Sněmovna Elections (Autumn 2025)
The most important thing to do, is to MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.
Making a plan to vote involves:
- Choosing a Time: Decide whether to vote on Friday or Saturday, considering polling hours.
- Locating Your Polling Station: Check the address on your ballot envelope or municipal website.
- Preparing Documents: Ensure you have a valid Czech ID and your ballot papers.
- Arranging Transport: Plan how you will get to the polling station.
- Scheduling Around Responsibilities: Consider work, family, or travel plans to avoid conflicts.
- Learning the Ballot: Familiarize yourself with voting options to avoid confusion at the booth. You can even fill out your ballot before you go the polling station.
Key Information
-
-
Election Dates: Likely Friday, Sept 26, and Saturday, Sept 27, 2025
-
-
-
Polling Hours:
-
-
Friday: 14:00 – 22:00
-
-
-
Saturday: 08:00 – 14:00
-
-
-
-
-
Who Can Vote?
-
-
Czech citizens aged 18+ on the last election day
-
-
-
-
-
Where Are You Registered?
-
-
Automatically registered based on permanent residence
-
-
-
What you receive before election day
- Ballot papers delivered by mail no later than 3 days before the election
- If lost or missing, request a replacement at the polling station on election day
What to bring to the polling station
- Valid Czech ID (physical or electronic via eDoklady app)
- Ballot papers (if received at home)
Finding your polling station
- Based on your permanent residence
- Address is printed on the envelope with your ballot papers
- Organized by the municipal government
- Closer to election day, there will be a website showing the locations of polling stations
Voting Process
- Arrive at the polling station and let the electoral commission verify your identity
- Receive an official voting envelope (and replacement ballot papers if needed)
- Go behind the curtain to fill out your ballot (you can also do this at home already!)
- Insert your completed ballot in the official envelope and submit it (only put the one sheet with your choice in the envelope)
- Say goodbye to election commission volunteers!
Specifics for the Sněmovna Elections
The voting instructions are slightly different depending on the type of elections, like Local, Regional, Presidential and European. There are several ways to fill out the ballot. For the Sněmovna Elections there are 2 possibilities:
- Simply vote for one party, or
- Give 4 preferential votes to specific candidates on the same list
The country is divided in 14 voter districts which correspond to the regions. In every district the list of candidates per party will be different. This means that the most well known politicians of the parties might not be on the list in your district, and you might not be able to vote for that one person you know and like. For example: Petr Fiala (ODS) is a candidate in the South Moravian Region, Vít Rakušan (STAN) in the Central Bohemian Region.
Tip: If unsure about people, simply check the box for the electoral group to vote for the entire list (option 1).
Election Results
- Polls close Saturday at 14:00
- Counting begins immediately
- First results appear within an hour, but final results arrive by Saturday evening
- All major television channels will provide live coverage, announcing the results as they come in.
- The official results will be published on the Czech Statistical Office’s election website: https://www.volby.cz/.
- Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior will provide updates on their official website: https://www.mvcr.cz/.
- Read more on the website of the Sněmovna to understand how preferential votes for candidates are taken into account.
Voting with a Disability
- Assistance available at the polling station
-
Request a home visit with a portable ballot box at your Municipal Office
Voting Outside Your Permanent Residence or Abroad
- You Need a Voter ID (voličský průkaz) to vote anywhere in the Czech Republic or at embassies
- Apply at your local municipal office or embassy:
- There is no specific form to fill out, you write your own request
- In person
- In writing (officially certified signature required)
- Electronically (via data box or Citizen’s Portal)
- Deadlines:
- Written & electronic applications: 7 days before the election (Friday, 16:00)
- In-person applications: 2 days before the election (Wednesday, 16:00)
- Required Information:
- Full name, date of birth, permanent address, delivery address (if applicable)
- Important: Lost voter IDs cannot be replaced
- Official guide on obtaining a voter ID: Ministry of the Interior – Voter ID Info (in Czech)
New! Correspondence Voting for Czechs Abroad
Long-term residents abroad can vote by mail for the first time. They must be registered in a special voter list at the local embassy. Registration will become available remotely via the Citizen’s Portal from April 1, 2025. It is estimated that up to 100,000 voters might vote by mail. A dedicated website with more details will be launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly.
Read more on the website of the Sněmovna itself (in English).
For official updates: Ministry of the Interior (in Czech).
