Voting Rights for Immigrants. Reflections on the Background of EU Citizenship

Abstract

Voting rights are traditionally associated with the institution of citizenship. This relationship, however,is subjected to change, i.e. under the influence of globalization and international migration. The scope of migration flows raise challenges for modern electoral law as well as for democracy itself. The subject of this article is the issue of voting rights in the context of the migration phenomenon in the European Union. The considerations in this article include the voting rights of immigrants (thirdcountry nationals and migrants) and citizens of EU member states within the framework of free movement of persons. This distinction becomes necessary and highlights asymmetric solutions for the political participation of immigrants from the EU andbeyond.