Czech citizens wishing to vote abroad to register at embassies by Sunday

Sunday, May 5th is the deadline for Czech citizens living abroad to register at Czech embassies and consulates before this year's parliamentary elections; otherwise they will not be allowed to cast their votes. Embassy officials say that only a few hundred people have registered so far and no major changes are expected by Sunday. The largest number of Czechs have registered in neighbouring Slovakia where approximately 200 people wish to vote. Czech diplomats have agreed that people are less interested in this year's general election than Czech authorities expected. According to unofficial estimates there are about 70,000 Czech citizens living abroad, many of whom have criticised the fact that they have to travel to distant embassies rather than cast their votes by post.