The Ministry of the Foreign Affairs warns that, according to the new election law, the Romanian citizens from abroad that would want to vote for the parliamentary elections of November 30, may be entitled to do so if they have the residence in the state where they live.

The residence abroad must be proved by supporting documents issued by the authorities from the state where the Romanian voters live. The MFA took already the necessary measures for the diplomatic missions to identify the documents necessary in each state where voting sections will be organized, following that after the end of this action the public to be announce in due time.

According to the Law no 35/ 2008 regarding the election for the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate, and according to the amendments and completions of the Law no 67/2004 regarding the election of local public administration officials, and to the Law of public administration no 215/2001 and to the Law no 393/2004 regarding the Statute of local elected officials, the Romanian citizens abroad entitled to vote having the residence abroad, may use this right as follows:

1. The Romanian citizens with the residence abroad may vote with their valid simple passport with the observation regarding the residence abroad.

2. The Romanian citizens with the residence abroad may vote with their valid simple passport or, for the EU Member States, with the valid identity card, accompanied by any other document issued by the foreign authorities by which it is proved the residence abroad.

Also, according to the Law no 35/ 2008, the temporary identity cards may not be used for voting, which means that the travel title may not be used for voting.

In order to vote, the Romanian citizens must be the possessors of valid identity documents. Those that have lost or have expired documents, and want to vote, must obtain permanent identity documents. Thus, the MFA recommends all Romanian citizens having lost or expired Romanian documents to take all the necessary action in due time for changing these documents or for the issuance of new one.

The Romanian citizens that, on the election day, are abroad, for tourism or business purpose, may not vote.

The MFA will initiate an information campaign for the Romanian citizens abroad regarding the new voting procedure, related to the uninominal vote.

Thus, starting of today, October 2, 2008, The Ministry of Foreign Affaires inaugurates the section for parliamentary election on the MFA site. The section “parliamentary election 2008” may be accessed from the webpage of the MFA.

In this section we offer information regarding the responsibilities of the MFA within the elections, as well as useful information on the activity of the Electoral Office for the Circumscription no 43, office created as a premiere, and which purpose is to manage the election at the level of electoral circumscriptions for the Romanian citizens having the residence abroad.

The webpage will be updated progressively as new information is available.

The MFA recommends the Romanian citizens to get in due time new information on the procedures regarding the uninominal vote, in order for them to vote in good condition in the first poll of November 30, 2008.

The MFA started already the preparations for organizing the voting sections abroad.