Voting in the second general election in as many months got underway at 7am on Sunday at over 20,000 polling stations in 56 constituencies across the country.
Polling stations will remain open until 7pm.
The voting age is normally 18 and over, but all citizens born in 1994 will be allowed to participate, whether they have reached 18 or not.
There are 4,815 candidates (including independents) running in the election for 21 parties and coalitions.
Parliament comprises 300 MPs, 238 of whom are voted directly according to the reinforced proportional representation system in eight single- and 48 multiseat constituencies.
Voters will be given 21 ballot papers (one for each party running in the election plus a blank ballot) and an envelope. In some consituences where there are independents running, voters will receive additional ballots.
Inside the polling booths, they will choose only one ballot paper. They will not be asked to indicate their preferred candidates on the party ticket by marking a cross (a “+”, not an “X”) next to their names, as is customary, as candidates will be selected according to party lists determinded by the results of the May 6 election.
Another dozen seats are allocated at state level, on the basis of the nationwide share of the vote of the parties that cross the three percent threshold necessary to enter parliament. The twelve deputies elected in this way are drawn from party lists.
The first-past-the-post party will receive the election’s biggest prize – a 50-seat bonus.
Unofficial exit polls will be announced, via the media, by the country’s polling agencies shortly after the closing of polling stations.
The authorities expect the first official projections by 9.30am. Counting should be completed in the early hours of Monday morning.
Source: Athens News
