Socialist MP Luis Pisco regretted disagreements with the Social Democrats over an alternative to the obligation to mail a copy of the citizen’s certificate with the votes of emigrants, but the PSD accuses him of hypocrisy.
“In the last three legislative elections, about 40% of the votes were canceled because they were not accompanied by a copy of the citizen’s certificate,” which is mandatory under the current electoral law, a PS deputy told Lusa.
Portuguese residents abroad can vote in person or by post. In the case of voting by mail, these citizens receive a ballot at the address indicated in the registration book, by the fastest postal route upon registration, which is sent by the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Administration.
The voter receives a ballot and two envelopes, green and white, which will be returned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
After checking the ballot option with a cross, these voters must place it in a green envelope, close it, and place that green envelope in a white envelope along with a copy of their citizen’s card or identification card. After closing, voters must mail in a free white envelope before Election Day.
It turns out that due to fear of using personal data contained in ID cards or ignorance of the voting method, a high percentage of Portuguese expats did not send a copy and consequently their vote was cancelled.
Paulo Pisco claims that the PS tried to reach an agreement with the PSD to find “an equally effective alternative, similar to the method used in Germany, in which a photocopy of the citizenship card is a declaration of honor with criminal penalties for anyone who has committed a crime.” violation.”
The socialist accuses the SDP of remaining “inflexible” and expresses concern because, according to him, he has already witnessed a vote count in which the votes canceled due to the lack of a copy of the citizen’s certificate exceed those confirmed.
But the SDP claims that this obligation stems from a law passed by the PS in 2018 (the electoral law) and accuses the socialist of “pure political hypocrisy.”
“This position is completely contrary to the position of the PS in the Assembly of the Republic,” José Cesario (PSD) told Lusa.
The former Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities (constitutional governments XV, XIX and XX) ensures that the party is ready to find solutions that will lead to greater participation of this electorate, but on the condition that they ensure “legality” and “votes will be counted”. actually comes from the said citizen.”
“We need a system that does not allow any abuse,” he continued.
And he recalled the proposal of the PSD to move forward with a pilot experience of electronic voting in mobility rather than at the ballot box, which did not receive the necessary support from other parties, namely the PS.
For his part, Paulo Pisco said that in the current context and to avoid a situation like the one that occurred in the last elections in Europe, “there is a very big reinforcement of information so that people can be absolutely aware of what they need.” even including a photocopy of the citizen’s ID so that the vote can be verified.”
He added: “It breaks my heart to see such a high percentage of voters at risk of not being counted. This is terrible for me.”
On 5 January, the Assembly of the Republic recommended that the government carry out awareness-raising activities among Portuguese communities abroad as part of an electoral awareness campaign ahead of the early legislative elections on 10 March.
In the last elections to the Assembly of the Republic (2022), the Constitutional Court invalidated the elections in the European constituency and the subsequent repetition of the electoral act.
The point was that after a meeting on January 18, 2022, at which various parties came together, it was decided that when counting the votes of emigrants sent by mail, ballots that did not have a copy of the card attached would be valid. citizen, contrary to what is provided by law.
After hearing from the legal department, the SDP changed its position and, on the day of the vote count, challenged the recognition of ballots that were not accompanied by a copy of the citizen’s identification card.
Because many of these ballots were certified and mixed with valid votes, the general counting board eventually invalidated the results of dozens of tabulations, including valid and invalid votes, because they could not be distinguished once in the ballot box.
A total of 157 thousand votes were cancelled, 80% of the total in the European circle.
Called upon to rule on the annulment of these votes, the Constitutional Court declared the elections in these assemblies invalid, and the National Electoral Commission (CNE) then decided to repeat the voting in this constituency, which occurred on 12 and 13 March. with more favorable results for the PS, which elected two deputies across Europe, while in the primary elections (30 January) it received one and the SDP the other.
On March 10, the Portuguese elect a new government after the President of the Republic decided to dissolve parliament last November.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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