The referendum on privileges will be expensive because of Golob’s pay reform

By: Spletni časopis

Because of the pay reform, the referendum on astronomical bonuses for the cultural elite will be much more expensive than those in the past.

The largest cost of the referendum stems from the payments to everyone involved in conducting the process, which have significantly increased as a result of Prime Minister Robert Golob’s coalition’s pay reform. According to the State Electoral Commission (DVK), the president and deputy president of the electoral commission at the constituency and district levels will now receive €1,666 for organising the referendum, compared to €1,151 before January 1^st, 2025. Members and deputy members of these commissions will be paid €635 for referendum duties (previously €438). The president and deputy president of a polling board will receive a net amount of €96.33 (previously €66.48), while members and deputy members of the polling board will be paid €81.51 (previously €56.25).

The estimated total cost of the referendum is approximately €6.6 million, of which around €3.7 million will go toward compensating electoral bodies. The remaining €2.9 million will cover expenses such as polling station rentals, IT support, postal costs, printing and distribution of election materials, and similar logistics.

No early voting at Gospodarsko razstavišče in Ljubljana

Referendum preparations will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, April 8^th, 2025. District electoral commissions must determine polling stations for the legislative referendum by April 15^th, 2025. In Ljubljana, early voting will not take place at the Gospodarsko razstavišče due to the venue being booked for other events – it will instead be held at alternative locations. This also applies to the so-called omnia polling station (a special polling station for voters voting outside their home district), which on referendum Sunday will likely be organised at the Ljubljana Administrative Unit headquarters at Linhartova cesta 13 instead of the Gospodarsko razstavišče.

Voters with permanent residence in Slovenia who will be abroad on the day of the vote and wish to vote by mail or at a diplomatic mission with a polling station must submit a request to vote from abroad by April 25^th. This also applies to voters who live abroad permanently and want to vote by mail. However, those voting at a diplomatic or consular mission do not need to apply, as they are already included in a special electoral register. There will be 29 polling stations abroad at diplomatic missions and consulates in 25 countries.

Unlike national elections, where voters permanently residing abroad automatically receive voting materials for postal voting, this does not apply for referendums. These voters can only vote by mail if they submit a timely request.

To vote by mail within Slovenia – an option for those in hospitals, care institutions, detention or prison, and those with an official disability certificate – a request must be submitted no later than April 30^th.

Voters unable to go to a polling station due to illness can request home voting until May 7^th. That is also the deadline to request to vote outside one’s home district (at the omnia polling stations).

Early voting for the referendum will take place on Tuesday, May 6^th, Wednesday, May 7^th, and Thursday, May 8^th. General voting day is Sunday, May 11^th.