Postal voting for general elections: Government drafting new legislation

The Greek government is preparing a draft law to allow Greek citizens living abroad to vote by mail in national elections.

According to Dnews, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to share his views on the proposal at an event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, stating that "the conditions are ripe for taking the next step." The new legislation aims to implement a postal voting system similar to the one used in the 2024 European Parliament elections.

A Test for New Consensus
The Prime Minister will also pressure the opposition to support the postal voting system, saying, "No one can hide behind excuses anymore." This move seeks to gather the necessary 200 votes to pass the law, with discussions with the new leader of the left-wing party, SYRIZA, seen as crucial for its success.

Previous Attempts
The idea was first proposed in January by Niki Kerameos but faced significant opposition and was rejected. The government has now decided to revisit the proposal at a more opportune time. The Prime Minister reassured the Greek diaspora in New York that securing the 200 votes in Parliament would be much easier after a successful trial run.

Voting Process
The new system will allow voters both within Greece and abroad to use a single ballot. One side of the ballot will feature party options, while the other will allow voters to select their preferred candidates. This system is based on the successful model from the European Parliament elections.

The government also plans to resolve disagreements with the opposition regarding whether voters abroad should choose from a specific list of candidates or all candidates nationwide. If the proposal passes, the number of national MPs in the Greek Parliament would be reduced by 12.

This legislation is seen as a significant step towards increasing the participation of Greek citizens living abroad in national elections.