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Our definitions of national, regional, and local follows the definitions of the Council of Europe of 2020.
Interested in subsequent years? Send us a data request.
Why Certain Elections Are Not Listed
National Level
This section details how the national executives (Heads of State or Government) are chosen.
- Non-Elected, Hereditary Executives (Monarchies):The national executives in the following countries are determined by hereditary succession and are not elected: Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
- Unique Non-Elected Executives:
- Vatican City: An absolute monarchy. The executive (the Pope) is chosen through a conclave after the death or resignation of the previous leader. Executive elections are not held.
- Andorra: The dual executive is appointed by the executives of the Vatican City (the Bishop of Urgell) and is directly elected through the Presidential elections in France (the President of France).
- Elections Postponed:
- Ukraine: Elections have been postponed due to Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Regional Level
This section focuses on the existence and method of selecting regional administration and executives.
- No Regional Administration:The following countries do not have a regional administrative level: Andorra, Armenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Slovenia, Türkiye, and the Vatican City.
- Non-Directly Elected Regional Executives:Regional executives are appointed or indirectly elected (not by direct popular vote) in parts or all of the following countries: Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine,** and the United Kingdom.
- Specific cases: Aosta Valley (Italy) and all regions of Moldova (except Gagauzia).
- Lack of Regional Institutions:
- Cyprus does not have regional parliaments.
- Finland does not have regional executives.
Local Level
- Varying Election Dates:The dates for local (mayoral and parliament) elections are not uniform across the country but vary by subnational entity in: Austria, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the United Kingdom.