European Parliament Elections

**European Elections**
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The European elections are a series of elections held every five years in the European Union (EU) to elect members of the European Parliament (MEP). The elections have been held since 1979, with the first election taking place on June 7-10, 1979.

**Global Position**
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The European elections are one of the largest democratic elections in the world, with over 400 million eligible voters. They are the second-largest democratic election after the Indian general election.

**Electoral Process**
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Members of the European Parliament are elected separately for each member state through direct, free, and secret ballot. The electoral process is governed by Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the 1976 Direct Election Act. However, the precise electoral system is determined by each individual member state according to its national rules.

**Electoral System**
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The European Parliament has been working towards unifying the electoral system throughout Europe since its introduction in 1979. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) mandates the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to work towards a unified electoral system. However, each member state still determines its own electoral system.

**Recent Elections**
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The most recent European elections took place from May 23-26, 2019, in Germany and Austria on May 26, 2019. The elections are held every five years, with the next scheduled to take place in 2024.

**Electoral Method**
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Since 1999, the method of voting has been proportional representation. Almost all countries use a multi-nominal proportional system, where voters can vote for multiple candidates and parties.

**National Elections**
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In addition to European elections, national bodies such as parliaments are also elected in each member state. Some countries have an upper house of parliament that is either appointed (Germany), fully elected (Poland), or partially elected (France).