Streamlining Voting by Mail
Proposal Overview
In December 2023, the Greek Government announced its intentions to introduce a postal vote for the upcoming European elections of June 2024. Greeks living abroad will only be able to vote through postal vote, meaning that they will no longer be able to vote in person in consulates and embassies. It is therefore very important to ensure that the new processes surrounding voting-by-mail reflect the realities of expat life around the world.
Deon Policy Institute drafted recommendations to increase voter registrations. There were four elements to that proposal:
Identifying the Greek Diaspora: Using technology tools to identify Greeks living in the US
Partnering with Organizations: Partnering with Diaspora organizations to disseminate information.
Advertising through ‘personalities’: Using famous Greeks of the Diaspora to advertise the newly establish postal vote right.
Registering by national ID or Greek passport number: Being able to use national identification to register, in addition to the existing option of using tax ID credentials.
Facilitating the right to vote for Greek citizens living abroad is the beginning for the organic connection of the diaspora with the Greek state.
Voting by Mail for Greek Diaspora: From Draft Law to Implementation
by Georgios Laskaris
Parliament is voting on a bill that will finally allow Greek citizens abroad to vote by mail. A major emphasis must be placed so that all expatriate Greeks are informed and encouraged to exercise their basic democratic right.
Proposal Impact
One of our recommendations was implemented by the Ministry of Interior:
Registration for voting by mail will be enabled by authentication by Greek passport or national ID