A month or so left for the 2024 European elections where citizens are obliged to go to the polls and vote.
This year there is a very big change and it is none other than postal vote.
The European elections in Greece are scheduled to take place on Sunday on June 9, 2024 from 07:00 in the morning to 19:00 in the afternoon. The right to vote is offered to those who have complete their 17th year of age until the election year.
Alternatively, there is possibility of postal voting through registration on the respective electronic platform within the deadline. It is important to note that voting is mandatory, except for specific exceptions.
It is emphasized that exercising the right to vote is mandatory – except for exceptions, for those over 70 years of age and for voters who are abroad. It is noted that the obligation has a persuasive nature.
Where can I vote in the 2024 European elections
For the Greek citizen or citizen of an EU member state voting in Greece Your electoral division is determined based on your residential address. To find it, see the Home Office website (HERE).
Deadline to register for postal voting
For the Greek citizen who wishes to vote making use of the newly instituted right to vote by mailfrom Greece or abroad, you should register in the special electoral lists for postal voting through the electronic platform of the Ministry of the Interior (HERE) until April 29, 2024.
In foreign countries, inside or outside the European Union, no polling stations will be established.
What you should have with you to vote in the European elections
You must bring your ID or passport, or driver’s license or insurance book for the necessary check. The identification of voters can can also be done using the digital identity via gov.gr wallet.
The procedure for postal voting in the European elections
The envelope for the postal vote is sent to the electors by the Ministry of the Interior no later than 15 days before the election with the obligation to receive it either from the voter or from a third party who is expressly authorized to receive it, with a genuine signature via gov.gr or from a public Authority. The voter is informed by e-mail about its dispatch folder and with a tracking link.
The folder includes:
- Postal vote return envelope
- ballot
- voting file
- instruction form
- list of candidates
- application – responsible declaration.
Voting envelopes are completely anonymized and carry a special mark of authenticity.
The ballot is single and is printed under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior. On the first page, all the parties, combinations and coalitions of parties that are candidates are displayed and the voter ticks the one they choose.
On this page there is also the distinct option “I choose none of the above – I vote white». On the second page, a table of numbers from 1 to 42. The voter chooses from 0 to 4 MEP candidates of the party or combination of its preference clearly marking the number corresponding to each candidate of his choice, as it appears in the list of candidates.
At the end, the voter notes the total number of candidates he has chosen, ie 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4. In the event that the voter makes a wrong choice or the ballot is damaged, the voter has the option to print a single new ballot from the Ministry of the Interior page, fill it out again and put it in the voting envelope.
The voter reads the instructions form carefully. It complements her application – responsible declaration on paper or electronically via gov.gr and writes his details in the postal vote return envelope.
He chooses the combination he wants and the MEP candidates or votes blank. He puts the ballot in the special voting envelope, closes it and puts it in the return envelope. In case he has completed the application – responsible declaration in paper, he puts it in the return envelope, together with the photocopy of Greek identity card, Greek passport or Greek driver’s license. Sends the envelope to the pre-filled address of the postal vote sorting center.
The voter receives the postal vote envelope free of charge since the cost of sending the postal envelope is covered by the Ministry of the Interior. The mailing of the postal vote return envelope by the voter has been prepaid by the Ministry of the Interior.
The voter is informed by message mobile phone and email, if he has declared it, for the receipt of his file from the Electoral Departments for the Sorting of Postal Ballots. The envelope must be received by 5pm on the eve of the election in order to count towards the voting result, otherwise it is returned to the sender. The counting of postal votes takes place at the same time as all other votes, on the Sunday afternoon of the 2024 European elections.
