Historically, the right to vote has been granted on the basis of citizenship and residence. These two criteria remain the most restrictive in terms of who can vote in elections.
Nationality (citizenship)
Citizenship is one of the main markers of eligibility to vote, particularly in the elections of the legislature, which are generally seen as constitutionally being the most important of all. Citizenship of the respective State is therefore a requirement aimed at the preservation of national interests.
important Only Croatian citizens can vote in the parliamentary elections. Croatian citizens that do not have a place of residence in the Republic of Croatia elect 3 representatives in a separate electoral district. In accordance with the Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities, national minorities which are appropriately represented in the total population of the Republic of Croatia shall have the right to elect eight representatives to the Croatian Parliament.
Residence
Normally, people eligible to vote would do so in their country of citizenship. However, there may be situations when you are not in your country of citizenship at the time of elections.
Croatian law does not restrict the right to vote of Croatian citizens residing abroad. However, to vote from abroad, you have to vote in diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Croatia . Voters who do not reside in the Republic of Croatia and wish to vote in diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Croatia abroad should request active registration.
According to human rights law, the question of eligibility for voting in elections for the European Parliament can be decided by each Member State. A person can be prohibited from voting if they are not resident, and states do not have to grant unrestricted voting rights to citizens who do not reside in that particular State.
All EU citizens residing in another EU Member State are entitled to vote in the respective local elections.
note The European Convention on Human Rights does not impose an obligation on states to introduce a system for non-resident citizens to vote.