All polling stations in Flanders closed at 15:00 for the local elections, including those using computer-based voting.
In the 141 municipalities where paper ballots are used, the polling stations closed at 13:00. In the 159 Flemish municipalities where digital voting is used, voting has also now ended. Those still in line at the time of closing are allowed to cast their votes.
In Flanders, approximately half of the municipalities use electronic voting, while the other half use paper ballots.
Around thirty disruptions were reported on Sunday morning, but the number steadily decreased throughout the morning.
Preliminary reports from polling stations indicate that more Flemish citizens stayed home compared to previous elections. This trend has raised concerns for Hilde Crevits, the Flemish Minister of Interior Affairs (CD&V).
"Regardless, the turnout will be lower than the 92% recorded in the last local election. It is too early for a definitive opinion on this matter," Crevits stated. "We will need to wait for all votes to be counted in every electoral district. The Flemish Government has already agreed to conduct a thorough evaluation of the removal of compulsory voting."
In Brussels, where voting is entirely computer-based, polling stations remain open until 16:00.
