Voting sections opened today at 7 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m. Some 34,000 voting centers were organized countrywide for the double elections. Romania's Foreign Affairs Ministry also set up some 180 voting cabins for people abroad.People can also vote on extra lists in the event they are in an other locality in the country than the one they live in.

This is the first time since the country joined the European Union that its people can elect representatives to the European Parliament, 35 lawmakers to be a part of the bloc's legislative arm. They will have a two-year mandate in the EP. In 2009 other elections will be organized to vote representatives to the Parliament for a five-year mandate.

Initially the EP ballots were scheduled for May 13, but postponed by the Cabinet, the premier fearing turmoil in the political life might affect the elections. Thirteen parties signed up for the race, plus one independent candidate. However, many proved to lack basic knowledge about the European Union, its major laws and treaties and its policies. Analysts warned Romanians may decide not to show up for the vote, upset with their lack of knowledge.

The second elections is a referendum for the open-party ballot which was slated for Nov.25 after the president's decision, dissatisfied with the slow pace the law was being developed and endorsed in the Cabinet through an emergency decree. Though the government announced it is to publicly assume responsibility on the bill to change Romania's voting manner, the president said things were being delayed on purpose and decide to call for a national referendum. The premier was anything but thrilled about the date, saying the European officials will laugh at Romania for having two elections at the same time.

The current voting system is the party-list ballot which does not allow voters to choose politicians separately, but party lists with names. The president explained during the election campaign an open-party ballot would support the clean-up of many parties and would force them to open up to voters and find valuable candidates for the election race.


Source: NeswsIn