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Out-of-country voting

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16378 | 17 April 2026

Signatories:
Lord David BLENCATHRA, United Kingdom, ECPA ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Mr Damien COTTIER, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Yunus EMRE, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Gökçe GÖKÇEN, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Valentina GRIPPO, Italy, ALDE ; Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Malte KAUFMANN, Germany, ECPA ; Mr Claude KERN, France, ALDE ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr George LOUCAIDES, Cyprus, UEL ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Mr Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Marijana PULJAK, Croatia, ALDE ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden, ECPA ; Ms Rian VOGELS, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Albana VOKSHI, Albania, EPP/CD ; Mr Markus WIECHEL, Sweden, ECPA

Out-of-country voting has grown significantly in recent years. Currently, 41 Council of Europe member States offer various options: voting at diplomatic missions, by post, proxy, or through pilot electronic systems. In several countries, diaspora votes now make up a substantial share of the total vote, increasingly shaping domestic results.

While new technologies and increased diaspora mobilisation have expanded voting opportunities abroad, they have also revealed vulnerabilities. These include manipulation risks, foreign interference, disinformation, unregulated online campaigning, and a lack of transparency in campaign funding.

The design and implementation of out-of-country voting methods can also be seen as ways to influence diaspora votes, eroding trust in electoral integrity. Countries have expanded, limited, or banned postal voting or the number of overseas polling stations. Observation rules for out-of-country voting also vary widely across Europe.

Given the varied approaches and lack of international standards, the Parliamentary Assembly should call on member States to:

  • safeguard electoral integrity for all voters, including those abroad;
  • tackle the specific jurisdictional, logistical, procedural, and technological challenges of out-of-country voting;
  • take steps to mitigate associated risks and vulnerabilities.

The Assembly should invite the Venice Commission to draft guidelines to strengthen electoral integrity for out-of-country voters in all Council of Europe member States.