The distribution of envelopes to voters who registered on the platform to vote by postal ballot in the European elections  that will take place May 9 are currently underway. As of Thursday (9.5.2024) many voters in Greece and abroad have already  received the following text message ,

“Dear voter, with electoral code …, we  would like to inform you that the envelop … for your postal vote has been dispatched. Special instructions are included,”

The process of delivering the envelops is expected to be completed by next week. Moreover, each voter casting their ballot by post ballot will receive an envelope containing two other envelopes.

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Nasos Balerbas, the General Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, told ANT1 that the voting process involves two envelopes: one personalized for return and the other anonymous for voting, featuring distinct characteristics akin to banknotes, making replication impossible.

What Voters Should Do

As soon as the voter receives their envelope, they will also have a declaration verifying they are the ones voting. If preferred, the declaration can be done via gov.gr, where an ID isn’t required. Otherwise, a photocopy of either an ID, passport, or driver’s license, will be needed. After filling out the ballot, the voter will put it in the voting envelope then place these in the envelope along with a photocopy of their ID, or other relevant document as per mentioned, and have it returned by contacting the mail service for collection. Within Greece voters can call for collection up until June 3rd or drop off the envelope in person at the relevant  courier by June 4th. For those outside of Greece the deadline is May 28th.

Delivery Process

Mr. Balerbas stated that a total of 202,515 voters have declared their intention to vote by mail. Of these, approximately 50,200 are Greeks living abroad. He also went on to state that the courier services that will deliver and collect the election material are obliged to deliver the afore mentioned to the address given by the voter. In reference to small villages or remote islands where there aren’t specific addresses the one that will be used is that of the community store.