Czechs go to the polls to vote in regional and Senate elections
Czechs go to the polls on Friday and Saturday to cast their ballot in regional and Senate elections. Here is what you need to know.
Senate elections
Elections to a third of the Senate are held every six years. Close to forty parties and movements have nominated 169 candidates who are contesting 27 seats in the upper chamber of Parliament. Candidates must be over the age of 40.
A second round of voting in the Senate elections will take place next weekend for contestants who fail to win more that 50 percent of the vote, with the two candidates with the highest number of votes from the first round advancing to the second.
Regional elections
Regional elections are held every four years. They are held in all regions of the Czech Republic except Prague, where councillors are elected in the municipal elections. It is not possible to vote in regional elections from abroad.
Close to 90 parties, movements and coalitions have nominated 8, 280 candidates.
Parties, movements or coalitions must reach a threshold of 5 percent to get seats on regional councils. Within each constituency, seats are allocated by a modified proportional electoral system by the D'Hondt method.
A minimum of 45 councilors and a maximum of 65 are elected to the regional councils. The number is determined by the population of the region - up to 600,000 inhabitants have 45 councilors, from 600,000 to 900,000 inhabitants 55 councilors, above 900,000 inhabitants 65 councilors. The councils elect the regional governor.
Who is eligible to vote?
All Czech citizens who are 18 and over and have permamemt residence in the given region are eligible to vote or run for a seat on a regional council. Unlike in local or European elections, citizens of other EU countries cannot vote.
Each voter will be asked to produce an ID card or a valid passport. If they do not do so, they will not be allowed to vote.
How to vote?
Voters receive a set of ballot papers at their home address at least three days before the election. If they haven’t received them or they have been damaged the electoral commission will provide them with new ones on request.
Voters can only place one ballot paper in the official envelope and can use their preferential votes by circling a maximum of four candidates.
The ballot paper is then placed in the official envelope and is thrown into the ballot box in front of the electoral commission. The regional and Senate ballots have separate envelopes.
Polling stations will be open on Friday from 2pm till 10 pm and on Saturday from 8 am to 2pm.
Voter ID card
Voters who will not be in their place of residence at the time of the vote can request an ID card in advance of the election. This allows them to vote in another polling station. Having received it, they can no longer vote in their place of residence.
Results
Preliminary results should be out on Saturday evening. Final results on Sunday.
