Record Number of Hungarians Abroad Register to Vote in April 12 Elections

Hungarian embassies and consular services have recorded a remarkable increase in voter registrations from citizens living abroad for the parliamentary elections set to take place on April 12. According to reports from Hungarian media, nearly 91,000 citizens of Hungary have registered to vote at the country's diplomatic missions overseas.

This figure is striking, especially when compared to the previous elections four years ago, where just under 65,500 citizens registered, of which slightly more than 57,000 ultimately cast their votes. Therefore, the nearly 40% surge in registrations signals a significant shift that could be advantageous for the opposition party, Tisza, which typically attracts younger, urban, and more mobile voters who align with the profile of Hungarian expatriates.

It is noteworthy that in the last elections, overseas voters were considerably more critical of the incumbent government. This year's parliamentary elections pit the pro-Moscow Fidesz party, led by Viktor Orbán, against the opposition movement spearheaded by Tisza leader Péter Magyar.

In addition to the record number of votes likely to be cast abroad, Hungary is also witnessing a rise in so-called 'portable voting,' where individuals vote not at their permanent residence but have their ballots counted in the electoral district of their hometown. The number of portable votes is also at a record high for these elections, totaling 227,000, which reliably exceeds the figure of just over 157,500 recorded in 2022. This trend is also viewed as potentially beneficial for Tisza.

The vast number of votes being cast outside the homeland indicates that the final tally of votes in these crucial elections, taking place next Sunday, is unlikely to be known until April 18, as noted by the Daily News Hungary website.