At the opening of the elections in Moldava in the Teplice area on 9 October 2026, some voters were struck from the voter list, the election commission did not admit them to vote, and they called the police.
On Friday 9 October 2026, shortly after the polling station opened in the municipality of Moldava in the Teplice area, police were present. Several people who sought to vote had been struck from the voter list, and the election commission did not let them to the ballot boxes [1][2][3].
Course of events
Three men whom the commission chairwoman could not find on the list were told that they could not vote. They therefore called the police. The officers declined to intervene, explaining that they cannot enter the election process. After a conversation in front of the municipal office, the men returned to the polling station with the officers, where a complaint and a document confirming that they had been unable to vote were drawn up [1][2][3].
According to the Czech News Agency, there are 147 people on the voter list, of whom 17 were struck off [1][2].
The mayor's explanation
Mayor David Leitermann (Moldava pro život) said that before the elections unknown people had been coming to the office with newly signed rental agreements, wanting to become residents of the municipality. In connection with so-called election tourism he named three addresses, in particular a former recreation building on the edge of the municipality, which he described as an uninhabitable ruin. The building belongs to the company Dessym [1][2][3].
Background
A similar situation arose in Moldava in 2022. The mayor at the time also had several voters struck off, but the commission eventually let them vote. A court then annulled the election, and it was held again half a year later. The chairman of the commission from the previous election sat on the commission this time as well and said that he follows the methodology the commissions received. According to the Czech News Agency, locals expect the matter to end up in court, as in 2022 [1][2][3].
The course of the elections across the country is described in the article Municipal council elections in Czechia 2026.
Related articles: Municipal and Senate elections 2026
Chronology
- — During the municipal elections in Moldava, police were present at a polling station because of voters who had been struck off the register and wanted to vote; the election commission did not allow them to cast ballots. iDNES.cz ČTK / České noviny
Pages linking here
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 9 October 2026
- iDNES.cz — 9 October 2026
- Lidovky.cz — 9 October 2026