European Union & Local Elections, 9 June 2024

Heatwave, June 2024 

The first major heatwave of the year in Romania took place on June 9, 2024, coinciding with the local and European Parliament elections (Stanciu, E., 2024). The National Meteorology Administration issued yellow and orange alerts for extreme heat and thermal discomfort across southern Romania, with maximums between 35-37 degrees (Stanciu, E., 2024; Andrei, D., 2024).  

The day following the election, temperatures were recorded over 40 degrees in several cities (Antena 3 CNN, 2024).  

Impact on electoral processes 

Some voters chose to vote early in the day to avoid the worst of the heat, but despite these precautions several people felt unwell at polling stations and needed medical assistance. Instances of fainting and dizziness were reported among mostly elders at five polling stations (Olttv Slatina, 2024; Ionescu-Heroiu, R., 2024). 

This impacted election officials and their deputies, who were tasked with delivering the electoral materials to electoral offices. In some cases, these offices were located dozens of kilometres away from each other. As the voting process on election day spanned 15 hours followed by the opening of the ballot boxes and tallying the results, this added several more hours of work in conditions of extreme heat. Frustrations grew among election officials as they had to wait in the heat, sometimes without water, for additional hours at each electoral office to deliver the materials and reports of voting results. Chaotic scenes unfolded as extreme heat caused some to faint while waiting to submit bags of ballot papers and other voting materials. Ambulances were dispatched across the country to help those affected (Antena 3 CNN, 2024). 

Numerous complaints arose about the poor conditions, including the lack of water and medical assistance. Election officials expressed deep frustration over the inhumane conditions, citing exhaustion, discomfort, and negligence on the part of authorities in managing the electoral process  (Antena 3 CNN, 2024).. 

The intense heat affected both the voters and electoral officials managing the election process, raising concerns about preparedness for such extreme conditions. 

Voter turnout 

Voter turnout was 52.4 in the EU election, an increase compared to the 2019 EU election which saw a turnout of 51.2% (International IDEA, n.d.). The local elections saw a turnout of 49.9%( Ernst, J., 2024), compared to the 2020 local elections which had a turnout of 44.5% (Stirile pro tv, 2020)