Random Draws Begin for Polling Station Members in Upcoming General Elections

Municipalities nationwide are conducting public drawings under the supervision of local electoral boards to select citizens for polling station duties ahead of the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 29. Following the early announcement of the elections, the electoral process is advancing to ensure all stations are fully staffed.

Pursuant to the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG), these public drawings are mandated to take place between the twenty-fifth and twenty-ninth day following the electoral call, placing the current schedule between late October and early November. Each polling station consists of a president and two members, alongside two designated alternates for each role to cover potential absences.

Notification letters are dispatched to selected individuals shortly after the conclusion of the local draws. Citizens can expect to receive official communications from early November detailing their assigned role, alongside instructions on how to present legal justifications or excuses if they need to be exempted from the duty.

To qualify for selection, basic requirements set by the Central Electoral Board stipulate that candidates must be under 70 years of age and able to read and write. For the presidency position, individuals are also required to hold a high school diploma, vocational training degree, or equivalent educational qualifications.

Those who receive notification and wish to present an excuse must submit documentation to the Zone Electoral Board within seven days of receipt. Valid reasons for exemption include specific age brackets, medical leaves, pregnancy, family care responsibilities, or having served on a polling board at least three times in the past decade.

On election day, designated members are required to report to their assigned polling stations early in the morning to verify voting booths and ballot boxes before polls open. Working citizens who are called to serve are entitled to a full-day paid leave on election day and a five-hour work reduction on the following day.

Authorities remind citizens that serving as a polling station member is a mandatory public obligation, and failing to report without a verified legal excuse can result in legal penalties and financial fines.