At the general elections in Belgium, the voter has the possibility to bring out a vote for a party or a vote for a candidate of the party (a preferential vote). At the general elections of December 13, 1987, for the House of Representatives, the voters have voted for 48 % by preference, whereas, for the Senate 38 % of them have done so. The evolution is still stagnating. The use of preferential votes is varying from one electoral district toanother: from 65 % in the district of Tongeren-Maaseik to 33 % in Mechelen. There is also a difference from one political party to another. The highest percentage is obtained by the Christian-democratic parties: 60 %; the lowest by the ecologists: 23 %. The preferential votes individual candidates obtain differ widely. This is not only as a result of their popularity, but also of their political position and rendering of services. Preferential voting is characteristic to politically conscious voters.