Czech Chamber of Deputies passes bill enabling people to vote from quarantine

Prague, Aug 19 (CTK) – The Czech Chamber of Deputies today passed a special bill to enable people quarantined over the coronavirus to cast their ballots in the autumn Senate and regional elections, and the Senate will discuss it on Thursday.

In the Chamber’s vote, the government-sponsored bill was also supported by the opposition based on a previous agreement between its leaders and the Interior Ministry, which drafted the bill.

The bill enables those in mandatory quarantine to vote from a car at special points or use the system of special commissions coming to their homes with a portable ballot box.

It also reckons with special polling points at health and social care facilities under quarantine.

The chance of special voting will only apply to those who would be in quarantine or isolation imposed on them by a public health authority or a doctor.

Those under preventive protective measures, on return from abroad for example, will see their right to vote unrestricted and will be able to cast their ballots at the polling station in their home election ward.

In the drive-in voting points, the casting of ballots will only be possible from motor vehicles. The points will be opened at 78 places across the country, one in each district. The voting there will be possible on Wednesday, September 30, from 07:00 to 15:00. A special commission will delete the drive-in voters from the permanent list of voters in order to prevent their repeated voting on the official election days which are Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3.

Those in quarantine, who would be unable to come by car, should report to the relevant regional office by Thursday, October 1, 20:00. If so, an electoral commission in protective equipment and with a portable ballot box would call on them at home between Friday, 07:00 and Saturday, 14:00.

The measure will be organised by a special team, which will also organize the drive-in points.

The same team will secure the voting in hospitals and other medical and social care facilities under quarantine.

In each region, a special commission will be established to add the votes cast in extraordinary regime together, according to the new bill.