After Parliament kickstarted the revision in November 2025, the Council agreed to amend the European electoral law in March 2026, adding provisions on transparency, accountability, traceability and vote integrity, as well as the need to define detailed modalities in Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
The reform, adopted in plenary today by 616 votes for and 24 against, with 8 abstentions, introduces a temporary exception to the current rule requiring in-person voting, enabling female MEPs to delegate their vote to a trusted colleague for up to three months before their due date and for six months after giving birth. This measure seeks to strengthen gender equality, democratic representation, and work-life balance, ensuring that MEPs can exercise their mandates in full while managing health and family responsibilities.
Quotes
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who initiated the reform, said: “I am proud of Parliament’s work. It is a big milestone for a more modern and just Parliament. No member should lose her right to vote because of becoming a mother. I will continue to work closely with the member states and their parliaments now to ensure a smooth ratification of this amendment to the electoral act, so members can benefit from the changes quickly.”
Rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) added: “Today’s landmark vote brings this targeted reform one decisive step closer to becoming law. Of course, Parliament was immediately ready to accept the Council’s additions on transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the vote – values that we have always stood for – so that the process can move ahead without delay to final adoption and national ratification. This is a practical, carefully defined change to protect the personal nature of the mandate, while ensuring that motherhood does not mean elected representatives should ever have to choose between their vote and their child. We hope that this view will be shared at the next steps in this special legislative process.”
Next steps
The revised EU Electoral Act now requires formal adoption by the Council and ratification by all member states in line with their constitutional requirements.
Background
This reform aligns with Parliament’s broader commitment to gender equality and inclusivity, ensuring that parental responsibilities do not hinder political representation.
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