site.btaCompulsory Voting in the Balkans: An Experimental Cure for Political Apathy with Controversial Results

The low voter turnout in the last few parliamentary elections in Bulgaria is not a uniquely Bulgarian phenomenon, nor a problem for Bulgarian politics alone. Politicians in neighbouring countries are also faced with the task of finding a way to encourage citizens to participate more actively in elections, and some of the Balkan countries are trying or have tried in the past to solve this problem in the same way as in Bulgaria - by introducing compulsory voting. Such provisions are in force in Greece and Turkiye and also, until recently, in the Republic of Cyprus. However, it can be seen that this approach is also facing difficulties with the implementation of the measure there, and voter turnout remains low or is even falling, except to some extent in the case of Turkiye.

GREECE

Voting in Greece is compulsory, and this requirement is enshrined in the country's constitution, which states that "participation in elections shall be compulsory for all those who are registered in the electoral registers".

There are, however, some exceptions to the rule - for citizens over the age of 70 and for those who are abroad on election day. 

According to the law, a voter who unjustifiably fails to exercise his or her right to vote is liable to imprisonment from one month to one year.

In practice, however, the prescribed penalties for non-participation in elections are not imposed. According to a publication by the Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos Foundation – Centre for European Constitutional Law (CECL), quoted before the European parliamentary elections in June by Iefimerida ton Syndacton, "there are no known cases of sanctions being imposed" and voters told the newspaper they had forgotten about the provision or were surprised to hear it was still in force. CECL is an NGO operating under the supervision of the Hellenic ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Justice, Education and Culture. 

The fact that Greeks do not take this legal obligation seriously was confirmed in the European Parliament elections when almost 60% of voters did not turn up at the polling stations. At the time, journalist and political analyst Dora Andoniu told BTA that this phenomenon causes various side effects and influences the overall political picture.

TURKIYE

Voting in elections in neighbouring Turkiye is a right, but also an obligation, the breach of which is punishable by a fine.

The compulsory nature of voting is regulated as a legal obligation under Article 25 of the Electoral Code. Turkish legislation considers participation in the electoral process as vital for democratic processes and encourages it by imposing a monetary fine.

Voting is not only a constitutional right but also a civic duty of the voter and is compulsory in presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as in local elections and referendums.

Traditionally, the country has seen a high turnout in elections, with the last presidential and parliamentary elections on May 28, 2023 seeing a voter turnout of 86.98 %, Turkish private broadcaster NTV recalled.

All citizens on the electoral registers who do not go to vote are subject to a monetary fine, and if it is not paid, an administrative procedure can be launched against the irregular voter, legal experts explain. The fine can be challenged in certain circumstances, such as when the voter is ill or when he or she is out of the country.

A penalty notice is sent to the voter who has not voted and payment is made online via eGovernment, tax offices or certain banks.  

CYPRUS

In the past, compulsory voting was also provided for by law in the Republic of Cyprus, with offenders facing a monetary fine of the then CZK 200 (EUR 340). 

In 2017, however, parliament voted to repeal this requirement in presidential, parliamentary and local elections, arguing that for many years it had been found impossible to actually enforce the measure on voters who did not turn up at the polls.

However, voting in European Parliament elections remained compulsory on paper until its revocation in 2023.

As a matter of fact, it should be noted that after the repeal of compulsory voting, there has been a certain decline in voter turnout in Cyprus. While it was close to 90% in the 2008 presidential elections and 81% in 2013, it was around 72-74% in the 2018 and 2023 elections. Whether this is due to the repeal of the provision or a general trend of declining turnout is difficult to judge.

BULGARIA

Voting in Bulgaria is de jure compulsory, but the voting obligation is de facto unenforceable after the Constitutional Court determined in 2017 that the penalty for non-voters (which consists in removal from the electoral roll for the next elections of the same type) was unconstitutional.