Statistics Office to Process Referendum Results from 5,545 Precincts

Bratislava, 2 July (TASR) - The Statistics Office will process the results of Saturday's (4 July) referendum in 50 tabulation centres located across Slovakia, the office has informed TASR, adding that it will publish the preliminary and definitive referendum results on the www.volbysr.sk website. The Statistics Office will verify and compile results from a total of 5,545 polling stations, including three special polling wards designated for postal voting from abroad. "The specialised tabulation centre in Presov will process the highest number of wards, while the centre in Sala (Nitra region) will handle the fewest," said Statistics Office spokesperson Jana Morhacova, adding that the office will use the Integrated Election Information System (IVIS) to process the referendum results. Voting results from all 2,926 villages, towns and cities, plus postal votes cast from abroad, will be processed exclusively in electronic form. As part of its preparations for the referendum, the Statistics Office has organised professional training for the heads and software coordinators of the specialised tabulation centres. In cooperation with district offices, it's also provided training for members of district referendum commissions, mayors of towns and villages, recorders, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of district election commissions focused on applying electoral legislation and the procedures for processing voting results. The preparations have also included three trial runs of the results-processing system, all of which were successfully implemented in June. The specialised tabulation centres will begin their work after voting has ended and the polling stations have closed, with processing expected to start shortly after 10 p.m. The referendum will take place on 4 July. Voters will decide on two issues: whether they agree with scrapping the life-time annuity granted to certain public officials, including Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), and whether they agree with restoring the Special Prosecutor's Office and the National Criminal Agency (NAKA). A referendum is called by the president if at least 350,000 citizens request it via a petition. The referendum was initiated by the extra-parliamentary Democrats party. ko/df