Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Could Control All Overseas Votes, Warns Association

A proposal to restrict postal voting for Slovaks living abroad would give Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár control over all overseas votes, warns Samuel Zubo, a representative of overseas Slovaks living in Prague. Zubo argues that if the proposal passes and many expatriates cannot vote, Slovak leaders would lose legitimacy and foreign governments might not recognize them. He particularly warns that a single polling station in Prague may be insufficient to serve all voters who want to participate in elections. The concern centers on the composition of electoral commissions at Slovak embassies, where the foreign affairs minister would control all commission members. The proposal represents a significant restriction on voting rights for Slovakia's overseas citizens, who currently have broader access to voting through postal ballots.