13.4 million voters in the Netherlands are voting today in early elections for a new parliament, BTA reported.
Polling stations open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
The campaign ended last night with debates on NOS television, in which 15 parties participated: as many as were in the previous parliament and as many as are expected to enter the new parliament.
The latest surveys by "Ipsos I&O" and "Variant/EenVandag" show that Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom is losing ground in the final phase of the campaign, with an expected 24 to 28 seats in the new 150-seat parliament. Three parties are approaching and balancing. The Green Left-Labor Party remains stable: with 22 to 26 seats, while D66 continues to grow: 21 to 25 seats. Slightly behind is the Christian Democratic Appeal with 18 to 22 seats, followed by the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy with 15 to 19 seats. DA21 is significantly behind with 9 to 12.
According to NOS, voters say they are withdrawing from the party of far-right politician Geert Wilders because it is becoming increasingly clear that it will not participate in the government. D66's growth is largely explained by the good image of its leader Rob Jetten and his performance during the debates. Other parties that have seen growth during the campaign include the "Forum for Democracy", which now has 4 to 6 seats, and 50PLUS: with 1 to 3 seats.
Political analyst Tom Louverse emphasizes that even these latest polls are not indicative of the election results. This is because a significant portion of voters make their decisions at the last minute: on election day itself or shortly before it. "Ipsos I&O" estimates that 39% of voters have not yet made a final choice; according to Verian, they are 35%. These late-deciding voters are not included in the final polls. Louverse points out that in the last six elections, the results have always differed by at least 5 seats for at least one party compared to the latest polls.
Rain and wind are expected in some parts of the country on election day. The media cites scientific studies that suggest that adverse weather conditions can affect election results. However, it is impossible to predict which parties might benefit from this.
According to an analysis of thirteen elections in the Netherlands, overall voter turnout is about 1% lower after 25 millimeters of rain. This effect can affect the results of smaller parties, as they need every possible vote to secure a seat in parliament.