Voters in Dutch general election have 27 parties and 1,166 candidates to choose from

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch voters in Wednesday’s general election are spoiled for choice.

The country’s electoral commission has registered no fewer than 27 parties and 1,166 candidates vying for the 150 seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives.

That means a big ballot paper because it bears the names of all the parties and the candidates on each party’s list. The results is ruffled papers as voters wrangle big ballots and use a small red pencil to mark their choice, before folding up the paper and squeezing it through a slot in the ballot box. When polling booths close, vote counters around the country have to unfold the sheets all over again to tally the results.

The unwieldy sheet has become such an issue that this year, five municipalities are experimenting with s