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Thousands Protest Slovak Plan to End Postal Voting for Citizens Abroad

The proposal is framed by the government as an anti-fraud step.

Overview

  • Following Tuesday's street rallies, organizers reported about 2,000 people in Bratislava and hundreds more in three other Slovak cities, with sister protests in Prague and Brussels.
  • Parliament is debating a bill that would end postal voting for Slovaks living abroad, which opposition parties say would sideline tens of thousands who backed them in 2023.
  • The plan would require citizens overseas to cast ballots in person at embassies or at special polling stations rather than by mail.
  • The draft would also open participation in presidential elections from abroad by allowing in-person voting for those contests.
  • Parliamentary vice president Tibor Gašpar defended the change as guarding against manipulation, saying one person could collect and fill several family ballots.