Government proposes single ballot system
The Interior Ministry is preparing to revolutionize the country’s voting system by introducing a unified ballot paper for the 2027 national elections, a move that could save millions of euros and dramatically reduce paper waste.
Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios has developed a comprehensive plan to replace the current multi-party ballot system with a single ballot sheet, similar to the postal voting format successfully tested during last year’s European elections. The proposal awaits presentation to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who previously expressed satisfaction with the postal voting implementation.
Under the proposed system, voters would receive a single ballot listing all political parties and coalitions on the front. The reverse side would display numbers corresponding to local candidates, with voters consulting a separate booklet to identify their preferred representative. After voting, citizens would return the reference booklet while submitting their marked ballot.
The current system generates enormous waste, according to ministry calculations. With approximately 25 parties participating in national elections and 21,000 polling stations serving roughly 400 voters each, about 210 million ballot papers are printed. However, only 6 million are actually used, meaning over 200 million sheets are discarded.
The financial implications are equally significant. Each political party currently spends approximately 100,000 euros printing roughly 10 million individual ballots. The unified system would transfer printing responsibilities to the National Printing Office, dramatically reducing costs for all parties while requiring only 10 million total ballots.
The postal voting trial during the European elections provided encouraging results. Among Greek expatriates using the unified ballot system, invalid votes totaled just 1% – specifically 1,447 invalid ballots among 149,787 valid votes cast.
However, implementing the system nationwide presents greater challenges. Unlike postal voters, who consciously chose alternative voting methods, the new system would affect all Greek citizens, necessitating extensive public education campaigns.
The reform addresses both environmental and economic concerns while maintaining electoral integrity. Greece joins other nations exploring innovative voting mechanisms to improve efficiency and reduce waste. Ministry officials emphasize that the 2027 timeline allows adequate preparation for voter education and system testing. The proposal represents the most significant electoral reform in Greece’s recent history.
Kathimerini
