Voting

Teenagers and MPs from various countries gathered to discuss strategies for increasing youth participation in democratic processes during the "Teens for Democracy" session at the 12th Athens Democracy Forum on Tuesday.

In the Bulgarian village of Belo Pole, which has a population of just 600, there are officially 14,392 registered voters. This anomaly has raised concerns about the fairness of the election process, despite government assurances.

Greeks and other Europeans are deeply curious about the November 5 US elections. Most of them recognize that the outcome of these elections will affect their country and themselves personally. Many of them say they wish the international community had a vote.

The Bulgarian parliament has rejected a proposal to ease the conditions for holding referendums. The proposed changes, introduced by "There Is Such a People" (TISP), sought to adjust the Law on Direct Participation of Citizens in State Power and Local Self-Government to make it easier for referendums to be valid.

"For us Greeks living abroad, postal voting has been a request for many years, a policy that not so long ago seemed like a midsummer night's dream," says Nicolas, a Greek who is based in London with his wife and two children.

A recent analysis by the Institute for the Development of the Public Environment (IRPS) highlights a significant decline in the use of machine voting during Bulgaria's parliamentary elections on June 9. This decline marks a stark contrast to previous elections, where voting technology was a focal point of political discourse and legislative adjustments.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) reported a 34.41% voter turnout at the end of election day on Sunday, June 9. By 20:00, 2,268,644 people had voted for the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the turnout for the European Parliament elections was slightly lower, with 33.79%, or 2,074,192 voters.

He has no political experience. No high-profile endorsements. No party affiliation. What Fidias Panayiotou does have are 2.6 million followers on YouTube and more on TikTok. And now he has won a seat in the European Parliament representing Cyprus, one of several unusual candidates who launched improbable campaigns only to snag membership in the 720-seat legislature.

Greece's first foray into postal voting ahead of last Sunday's elections for European Parliament has been hailed as a success by the Interior Ministry, though takeup was not as big as expected and there appear to have been some problems with the procedure.

The voter turnout at the June 9 elections as at 4 pm stood at 20.44% for National Assembly and 20.89% for European Parliament, Central Election Commission Spokesperson Rositsa Mateva told journalists on Sunday. Election day started on time and the voting proceeds normally in all polling stations, she said.