An ongoing debate in the Czech Parliament might give the impression that introducing postal votes for Czech citizens abroad is a contentious issue, dividing society into two irreconcilable and evenly matched camps. However, a STEM/MARK agency survey tells a different story. It reveals that supporters of this system significantly outnumber the opposition. The approval rate stands at 47 percent, with 35 percent against.
Interestingly, the survey results showed that the proposal has more excellent support among supporters of the ruling coalition parties. However, it is backed by 39 percent of ANO voters and 34 percent of SPD movement supporters, whose leaders vehemently reject it and present it as a threat to democracy.
From our results, it appears that the advocates of a postal vote in the lower house of the Czech Parliament have the upper hand regarding support from citizens,” said Jan Burianec, the study author from the STEM/MARK agency. It turned out that even among opposition party voters, a significant portion supports the introduction of postal voting for Czechs abroad.
In general, younger people, those with higher education, and residents of larger cities are more inclined towards postal voting. Questions about the possible introduction of postal voting within the Czech Republic and possibly via the Internet showed a much larger degree of societal controversy.
Approval for the possibility of voting by mail in the Czech Republic was declared by 40 percent of people, while the opposite opinion is held by 44 percent of respondents. The option to vote over the Internet would be supported by 44 percent, with 47 percent opposed.
“Postal voting in the Czech Republic or over the internet further divides socio-demographic groups regarding age or education. I think that Czechs perceive, for example, electronic voting as the last possible step when postal voting from abroad succeeds, and there will therefore be no doubts,” Burianec added.