The Hungarian parliament has adopted significant amendments to the country’s electoral laws, which include changes to electoral district boundaries, adjustments to voting procedures, and revised timelines for candidate withdrawals. The proposals, submitted by the Committee on Justice, were passed with 134 votes in favour and 52 against, without abstentions.
Changing Electoral Districts
One of the most notable changes concerns electoral districts. In Budapest, the number of electoral districts will decrease from 18 to 16, while Pest County will gain two, increasing its total from 12 to 14. Minor adjustments were also made to the electoral district boundaries in Fejér and Csongrád–Csanád Counties.
The amendments were justified by demographic trends, with National Election Office (NVI) officials highlighting the need for changes to comply with legal requirements. Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice Imre Vejkey stated that the modifications reflect demographic realities in Budapest and other counties.
Ballot Envelopes Not Compulsory
Another key reform involves the elimination of compulsory ballot envelopes. Voters will now receive envelopes only upon request, a move intended to reduce costs, shorten voting times, and speed up vote counting.
Candidate Withdrawals
Candidate withdrawal rules were also revised. Going forward, withdrawals must be submitted three days before the election at the latest, replacing the current deadline of 4pm two days prior.
Communication and Recounts
Additional changes focus on voter communication and vote recount procedures. Voting notifications will be sent not only by post but also to voters’ designated digital accounts under the Digital Citizenship Act. Moreover, vote recounts can from now on be requested even in the absence of legal violations, provided the margin of victory is less than 0.5 per cent of total votes or 101 votes in parliamentary elections. In cases of a tie, votes will now be recounted automatically. For mayoral, mayor-general, and municipal constituency elections, ties will no longer trigger a by-election. Instead, the vote will simply be repeated, ensuring timely allocation of mandates.
Opposition Criticism
These amendments mark a significant overhaul of Hungary’s electoral framework, aiming to address demographic realities, enhance efficiency, and streamline electoral processes. However, the opposition parties’ criticisms, in particular regarding the changing electoral districts which they claim disproportionately benefit the ruling parties, suggest that debates over the fairness and implications of these changes are far from over.
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