
The government has earmarked 15 million euros to cover the costs of the upcoming local elections, an insufficient fund according to the CEC to introduce electronic voting and counting in large municipalities in the country.
The request of this institution for an amount of 37 million euros has been rejected by the Ministry of Finance, even though the chief commissioner has a second chance to get the necessary money, but first he must convince the SP for electronic voting.
The government has said no to electronic voting in 7 other municipalities for the upcoming local elections, as the Ministry of Finance has provided only 15 million euros to cover the cost of the premises in 2023.
In the letter addressed to the executive, the head of the CEC requested 37 million euros to enable citizens in large municipalities in the country to vote electronically for their mayor. But from the fund presented in the draft budget for 2023, the Ministry of Finance has not met the expectations of the CEC, leaving the issue of technology in the elections in abeyance.
According to sources from the CEC, 15 million euros do not allow this institution to provide electronic voting in any municipality, as the money available is insufficient.
With this fund, according to the Commission, only a traditional process, voting and counting by paper, can be afforded, since the added expenses for the maintenance of electronic identification devices, cameras located in each voting center, election materials and salaries for the administration do not allow it. chief commissioner to maneuver electronically.
Although Celibashi has a second chance to get the requested money from the government, he must first convince the SP to accept electronic voting in 7 municipalities. In case this happens, the chief commissioner together with the left and right deputies will be able to convince the finance minister in the commissions when the budget is reported, to give the CEC the rest of the money, and another 22 million euros ./ Oranews