Greece’s government has unveiled a legislative proposal aimed at strengthening the political participation of Greeks living abroad by expanding postal voting to national parliamentary elections and creating a dedicated diaspora constituency.
The initiative was presented on Monday, Jan. 26, to the Cabinet by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios. It marks the latest step in a broader effort to make voting more accessible for the Greek diaspora.
Under the proposal, Greeks residing outside the country would be able to vote by mail in parliamentary elections, a right that until now has not been available for national contests. In parallel, the government plans to establish a new three-seat electoral district representing the Greek diaspora, allowing overseas voters to directly elect their own members of Parliament.
Livanios has already invited all political parties represented in Parliament to take part in an informal cross-party committee to discuss the proposal. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m. at the Ministry of the Interior.
The reform comes exactly two years after postal voting was introduced and implemented for European Parliament elections. According to the government, the goal is to further facilitate participation by Greek voters abroad, extending the convenience of mail-in voting to national elections as well.
“This reform aims to enable Greeks living outside the country to exercise their constitutional right without unnecessary obstacles,” the ministry said, emphasizing that voters would be able to cast their ballots from their place of residence rather than traveling long distances to polling stations.
In Greece’s 2023 national elections, about 18,000 overseas voters cast ballots at in-person polling stations set up around the world. At the time, participation was governed by Law 4648/2019, which imposed specific eligibility criteria and logistical constraints. In some cases, voters were required to travel to polling stations located in a different country.
Those participation criteria were lifted in 2023. The current proposal goes a step further by removing the need for physical presence at polling stations altogether, allowing eligible voters abroad to vote by mail.
Speaking about the initiative, Livanios said he expects “a meaningful dialogue with all parties represented in Parliament, so that this reform can become law, provided the required enhanced majority is secured.”
It is worth noting that postal voting for parliamentary elections would remain limited to voters living outside Greece. Voters residing within the country are not permitted to vote by mail in national elections. However, postal voting is already in force for European Parliament elections and national referendums. Under existing rules, a voter living in Greece could, for example, vote by mail in the 2029 European elections.
If adopted, the proposed changes would represent a significant shift in how Greece engages with its diaspora, offering greater access, convenience and formal representation to citizens living abroad.
