DILI, 16 january 2023 (TATOLI) – General Director of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), Acilino Manuel Branco, said that the introduction of postal voting for Timorese people living abroad aims to promote democratic participation.
“Postal voting is a new measure introduced to promote the electoral participation of Timorese living abroad,” Branco told Tatoli in Dili, today.
Branco stressed that STAE will work in collaboration with Timor-Leste’s embassies and consuls to start the registration of voters abroad in preparation for the introduction of postal voting for the upcoming election.
“Voters can choose between two types of voting – in person or by post. If they decide for the latter, they must justify their choice and register in their area of residence, so that electoral technicians can distribute the ballot papers,” he explained.
Branco added that the Government will provide a subsidy to the officials responsible for distributing the ballot papers to Timorese residents overseas.
Last week, the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Council of Minister (CoM), approved the new amendment to the electoral law, presented by the Vice Minister of State Administration, Lino Torrezão, which allow Timorese citizens living abroad to vote in the upcoming election through postal voting.
“The Council of Ministers approved a proposal for the fifth amendment to Law 6/2006, of 28 December, presented by the Vice Minister, Lino Torrezão, for the introduction of the new measures for postal voting,” Magalhaes said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
