Extending voting hours overseas, not under electoral bureau's authority

Electoral Bureau 48 for the overseas polling stations says in a press release issued on Sunday that extending the voting hours is not under its authority.

'Following press reports, the Electoral Bureau 48 for the overseas polling stations reminds voters that under Article 46 (1) of Law 370/2004 concerning the election of Romania's president, subsequently amended and supplemented, the chairs of the electoral bureau of the polling stations declare the voting closed and order the polling stations to be closed,' reads the release.

The release also says that under Article 46 (2), 'voters who at 21:00hrs are in the voting room may exercise their right to vote,' while extending the voting hours is not under the authority of the Electoral Bureau 48 for the overseas polling stations.

Independent presidential candidate Monica Macovei has asked for an extension of the voting hours if voters are still waiting to cast a ballot at 21:00hrs EET.'All the Romanian nationals heading for the polling stations should vote,' Macovei says in a press release. AGERPRES