Greek Minister of the Interior, Niki Kerameus, in a live online forum presented by The Hellenic Initiative (THI) on December 4, discussed the legislation to be voted on in January, that would allow Greek Diaspora citizens to vote in the European elections by postal vote.
Nick Pappas, President of THI Australia, facilitated the discussion, and the historic ‘Diaspora Vote’ legislation was at the forefront.
The law allowing Greek citizens to vote in Greek elections without returning to Greece was passed earlier this year. The proposed postal vote will come into effect with the European elections in June 2024 once voted for in the Hellenic Parliament in January.
The reforms go some way in eliminating the legal and logistical hurdles that impeded the participation of the Greek Diaspora in Greek elections.
Neos Kosmos asked Pappas how the a postal vote for European election may impact on the Diaspora and if they will take up the opportunity to vote.
“As a general proposition, broader enfranchisement is a good thing. A postal vote, which is now commonplace in most developed democracies, will make the voting process easier, indeed more inviting, for diaspora voters and it is my belief that it will produce greater engagement in the democratic process over time,” the president of THI Australia said.
Minister Kerameus said the voting reforms would fulfil “a historic national obligation for Greece” by allowing Greek citizens living abroad “to participate in our democracy.”
“With no barriers whatsoever, Greek citizens abroad will be able to express their views on national matters, and through these laws, we not only enhance our democracy, but we also strengthen the ties that link us all together concerning our shared country and as a result, I would say that we are bolstering our nation’s voice on the global stage.” Minister Niki Kerameus
Pappas envisages the extension of the postal vote for Greek national elections “as a natural and logical extension of the new law and should be welcomed.””Anything that makes a citizen’s engagement in the political process easier, be they within Greece or from the diaspora, should be encouraged,” said Pappas
Minister Kerameus said that “the elimination of the legal restrictions on voting from abroad that we voted in the summer, combined with the initiative for the postal vote, constitutes a significant reinforcement of the voting rights for all Greek citizens.”
“We depend on you to get the message across, for every Greek Australian to become aware of this most significant change.
“By enfranchising Diaspora Greeks, we derive the additional benefit of harnessing not only their vote, but also their voice as representatives of Greece wherever they reside,” Nick Pappas THI
Many of the left parties in Greek parliament, such as SYRIZA are skeptical of the move to widen the franchise to Diaspora, arguing that the Diaspora may may skew electoral outcomes due to what they believe is a lack or awareness of Greek politics and day-to-day lived experience in Greece.
However, the President of THI Australia said that while Diaspora Greeks may not always have a deep understanding of the inner workings of Greece, “they do have a sense of perspective on Greek affairs that may lend itself to a more objective, even nuanced, assessment of the pros & cons of the various political parties.”
“By enfranchising Diaspora Greeks, we derive the additional benefit of harnessing not only their vote, but also their voice as representatives of Greece wherever they reside,” added Pappas.
The Ministry of the Interior has published the following Q&A about the process:
1. Who is affected by the introduction of postal voting?
All Greek citizens registered in the electoral rolls, whether in Greece or abroad.
2. How does the postal voting procedure start?
The government will set up an online portal for registration on the postal voting electoral rolls.
Voters using their codes will register their application and fill in the address to which they want their election materials sent. The mobile phone number they provide and their email address are authenticated with a one-time password (OTP).
The deadline for submitting applications is 40 days before the elections. Until then, the voter can modify the receiving address or any other information and cancel their application.
3. What does the absentee ballot envelope contain, and when is it sent to the voter?
The envelope is sent to the voter by the Ministry of the Interior 20 days before the election, subject to receipt by the voter or by a third person expressly authorised to receive it.
The voter is informed by email of the dispatch of the envelope and a link to view the dispatch progress (tracking).
The envelope includes an Absentee Ballot Return Envelope, ballot, voting envelope, instruction form, list of candidates, and form – -affidavit.
Ballot envelopes will be fully anonymised and have a unique feature to prevent forgery.
4. What will the absentee ballot look like?
The absentee ballot is different. It is uniform and is printed under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior.
On the front, it has the combinations and all the parties and coalitions of parties standing, where voters will put a cross where they choose.
On the second page, they select the MEP candidates of the preferred combination by choosing the candidate number.
The order in which the combinations are listed is the order in which they were declared by the A1 Division of the Supreme Court.
5. How does one vote?
The voter reads the instructions carefully. They fill in the application form – affidavit and write their details in the postal vote return envelope.
They have a ready photocopy of their identity card, Greek passport, or Greek driver’s license. Selects the combination they want and the candidates for the European Parliament.
They insert the ballot paper in the special voting envelope, then insert it in the voting envelope, the application form, add the declaration and proof of identity in the return envelope and close it.
6. What happens next after the voter votes and sends the envelope?
Envelopes must arrive at the absentee ballot collection point by 5 p.m. on the day before the election. The voter is responsible for sending the envelope on time.
The envelopes are received by the Special Committee on Absentee Ballot Collection, which is formed as soon as the mailing of envelopes begins. There are 10 polling stations per collection committee.
The voter is notified by email of receipt of the envelope. After noting the absentee ballot receipt on the electronic platform, they place the absentee ballot return envelope in the special ballot box of the precinct to which the voter belongs.
The postal vote count is done simultaneously with the votes in the rest of the country.
7. Where are the envelopes sent by voters collected?
Postal return envelopes are sent to the pre-populated address.
The place where the ballot boxes are located is guarded by the Greek Police and is monitored and recorded by CCT. The recording material is kept at the Athens Court of First Instance.
8. How is the secrecy of the vote ensured?
The vote is secret. The secrecy of the postal vote is assured by separating the voting envelope from the envelope containing the ballot paper, which goes into the ballot box with the ballot papers of the other voters.
The application form – affidavit is kept separately and cannot in any way be combined with the voter’s ballot. A photocopy of the voter’s identity card, or passport, is used to ensure that there is no doubt that no one else voted on your behalf.
9. What happens if the voting record is lost?
The ballot envelope and all other materials must be kept in a safe place. There is no option to resend the envelope as it is personal, and the new printing will take time, which will not allow for the timely receipt of your ballot.
10. Are there any overseas polling stations?
Not for the upcoming European elections, Greek citizens wishing to exercise their right to vote from abroad will be able to vote only by postal vote.
11. Does this mean Greek citizens abroad can vote by postal vote in the next Greek elections?
No, the postal vote is exclusively for the European elections and national referenda.
