(1) Parliamentary elections in Romania shall be carried out in observance of the universal, equal, direct, secret and freely expressed nature of the vote, in compliance with this law.

(2) Romanian citizens have the right to elect and be elected, regardless of their race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, language spoken, religion, political opinion, wealth or social origin, according to the Constitution and legislation in force.

(3) Romanian citizens domiciled or residing abroad shall exercise their right to vote in accordance with this law.

(4) Romanian citizens enjoy the right to vote from the age of 18, if they reached this age until the day of the elections included.

(5) The following cannot elect:

a) mentally retarded or ill persons, laid under interdiction;

b) the persons prohibited from exercising their right to elect, during the period set by fi nal court ruling.

(6) The following cannot be elected:

a) the citizens falling under the categories referred to in Article 40 paragraph (3) of the Romanian Constitution, republished;

b) the persons falling under the categories referred to in paragraph (5);

c) the persons prohibited from exercising their right to stand as candidates in the elections for public authorities or in any other public functions, for the duration set through fi nal court ruling or by law.