Info

Slovenia

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code, article 20.
Verified:	2002/08/27

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population b. Respecting natural barriers f. Communities of interest/cultural concerns
Comments:	Eight constituencies shall be formed for -the election of deputies to the National Assembly. Eleven deputies shall be elected in each constituency. Constituencies shall be formed according to the principle that one deputy is elected per an approximately equal number of inhabitants. In the formation of constituencies and electoral districts, their geographical, common cultural and other characteristics must be taken into consideration. Electoral districts may cover the area of a single municipality, two or more municipalities, or part of a municipality. Each constituency shall be divided into eleven electoral districts, each with an approximately equal number of inhabitants. In each electoral district one deputy shall be elected. For the election of deputies of the Italian or Hungarian national communities, special constituencies shall be formed in those areas in which these communities reside.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 20.
Verified:	2002/08/27

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	a. Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments:	Constituencies and electoral districts shall be determined by law.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 21.
Verified:	2002/08/27

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:	(1) The President of the Republic shall be elected by a direct, general election conducted by secret ballot. (2) The candidate who receives a majority of the valid votes cast shall be elected to the office of the President of the Republic. (3) The President of the Republic shall be elected for a term of five years and may be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms. (4) Elections to the office of the President of the Republic shall be called by the President of the National Assembly. The President of the Republic must be elected no less than 15 days before the expiration of the term of the outgoing President of the Republic.
Source:	Constitution, article 103.
Verified:	2002/08/27

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	c. Indirectly elected by legislature/chosen by parliament
Comments:	(1) After consultations with the leaders of the various political groups within the National Assembly, the President of the Republic shall propose to the National Assembly a candidate for the office of Prime Minister. (2) Save where otherwise stipulated by this Constitution, the Prime Minister shall be chosen by the National Assembly by a majority of the votes of all its Deputies. Voting shall be by secret ballot. (3) If a candidate so proposed does not obtain the requisite majority of votes, the President of the Republic may renew consultations within 14 days of such vote and propose a new candidate, or the same candidate again, to the National Assembly. In addition, candidates may be proposed by the political groups within the National Assembly or by 10 or more Deputies of the National Assembly. In the event that more than one such candidate is nominated during this period, the National Assembly shall vote upon those nominated as follows; first, a vote shall be taken on the candidate nominated by the President of the Republic. If such a candidate is not elected, a vote will be taken in respect of each other candidate nominated in the order in which he was nominated. (4) If no candidate is elected Prime Minister pursuant to the last preceding paragraph then, unless the National Assembly, within 48 hours, resolves by a majority of those Deputies present and voting to conduct a further vote for the office of Prime Minister, the President of the Republic shall dissolve the National Assembly and call new elections for the same. At any such further vote for the office of Prime Minister, a new prime Minister may be elected by a majority of those Deputies present and voting. A vote shall be taken in respect of each candidate earlier proposed pursuant to the last preceding paragraph, ranked according to the number of votes received by each such candidate in the earlier voting. If no such candidate is elected, a vote shall be taken in respect of each new candidate proposed prior to the voting conducted pursuant to this paragraph, with any candidate of the President of the Republic as the subject of the first vote. (5) If, after all votes conducted pursuant to the last preceding paragraph, no candidate receives the requisite number of votes for election, the President of the Republic shall dissolve the National Assembly and call new elections for the National Assembly.
Source:	Constitution, article 111.
Verified:	2002/08/27

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, articles 102 et seq.
Verified:	2002/08/27

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	b. Two chambers
Comments:	The first chamber consists of 90 deputies and the second chamber of 40 deputies. The latter represents the territorial and corporative interests.
Source:	Constitution, articles 80 et seq.
Verified:	2002/08/27

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:	Eight constituencies shall be formed for the election of deputies to the National Assembly. Eleven deputies shall be elected in each constituency.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 20.
Verified:	2002/08/27

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Electoral Code, Law on the National Council.
Verified:	2004/11/25

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections
Comments:	The National Assembly Elections Act covers the elections to the first Chamber and the The National Council Elections Act the elections to the second chamber.
Source:	Constitution, articles 80 and 98.
Verified:	2004/11/26

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code, article 1.
Verified:	2002/08/27

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary b. EMB
Comments:	In the event of irregularities in the nomination procedure, each candidate or representative of lists of candidates shall have the right to lodge an appeal with the constituency electoral commission. The appeal may be lodged by the due term for the submission of the list of candidates. The constituency electoral commission must reach a decision on the appeal, in accordance with the procedure for determining the legitimacy of lists of candidates, within 48 hours from the due term for the submission of lists of candidates. The republic electoral commission may nullify or change the decision of the constituency electoral commission issued in accordance with the procedure for confirming the lists of candidates, if it ascertains that the decision is irregular or in breach of the law, at the latest by the day determined for the announcement of lists of candidates.
Source:	Electoral Code, articles 103 and 104.
Verified:	2002/08/27

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Republic Electoral Commission
Website Address: http://www.gov.si/elections/rvk.html

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/13

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level c. Local level d. Other kinds of elections (church, union, etc.) Please specify.
Comments:	d) The EMB is also responsible for referenda. The republic electoral commission shall: 1) provide for the legitimacy of the elections and the uniform application of the provisions of this Act referring to electoral procedures; 2) co-ordinate the work of constituency electoral commissions and district electoral commissions, provide expert advice on the application of this Act, and oversee their work; 3) regulate the printed forms for the application of this Act; 4) determine uniform standards for voting material and determine other material conditions for the conduct of activities related to elections; 5) announce the results of National Assembly elections; 6) issue election certificates; 7) perform other tasks determined by law. The republic electoral commission shall determine which official electoral documents must be sent to it by the constituency electoral commission or the district electoral commission, and the due term and method of sending. The republic electoral commission may transfer individual tasks from its jurisdiction to the special constituency electoral commission for the election of deputies of the national communities.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 37.
Verified:	2008/01/21

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:	The expenses are covered by the national budget of Slovenia.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 6.
Verified:	2002/08/27

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	e. Another organ within the national government
Comments:	The Court of Audit of The Republic of Slovenia.
Source:	Constitution, article 150. Court of Audit Act, article 20 et seq.
Verified:	2008/01/21

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	The members of the Electoral Commission shall be appointed for a period of four years and electoral committees for each election separately.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 22.
Verified:	2008/01/21

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body
Comments:
Source:	National Assembly Elelctions Act article 37
Verified:	2002/08/14

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Government Public Relations and Media Office
Verified:	2004/11/29

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	Government Public Relations and Media Office
Verified:	2002/08/14

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:	Every citizen of the Republic of Slovenia who has reached the age of 18 by the Election Day and has not been declared legally incompetent shall have the right to vote and to be elected as a deputy.
Source:	Constitution, article 43. Electoral Code, article 7.
Verified:	2004/11/29

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code, article 7.
Verified:	2002/08/27

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	c. Local Government Authority
Comments:
Source:	Law on Voters' Registration
Verified:	2002/08/14

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Law on Voters' Registration
Verified:	2002/08/14

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections e. At mobile polling stations f. By mail
Comments:	Voters shall exercise the right to vote in the constituency of their permanent residence. e) Voters, who, for reason of illness, cannot go in person to the polling station where they are enrolled in the electoral register, may vote in their homes before an electoral committee. They must notify the district electoral commission about this not later than three days prior to Election Day. f) Voters, who, on the day of the election, are not in the town where they have permanent residence because they are doing military service, may vote by post in the constituency in which they have permanent residence. People in care in retirement homes who do not have permanent residence there, and voters who are hospitalized, may also vote by post, provided that they have notified the district electoral commission or the constituency electoral commission not later than seven days prior to Election Day. Voting by post shall be conducted before the day determined as Election Day. Voters, who are abroad on Election Day because they have temporary or permanent residence there, may vote by post or through a diplomatic consular representative body of the Republic of Slovenia, provided that they have notified the Republic Electoral Commission not later than thirty days prior to Election Day, and that the country in which they are residing approves of such voting or that it is authorized by an international agreement. The ballot paper shall only be accepted if a voter casting his vote by post also encloses a voting card in the envelope verified by a diplomatic consular representative body of the Republic of Slovenia or a body of the state in which he is temporarily or permanently residing. The provisions valid for elections in Slovenia shall be applied accordingly for voting by post from abroad or through diplomatic consular representative bodies of the Republic of Slovenia.
Source:	Electoral Code, articles 7, 71, 81, 82 and 83.
Verified:	2004/11/29

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	b. Citizens residing outside the country c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation) d. Members of the armed forces e. Students f. Diplomatic staff
Comments:	Voters, who are abroad on Election Day because they have temporary or permanent residence there, may vote by post or through a diplomatic consular representative body of the Republic of Slovenia, provided that they have notified the republic electoral commission not later than thirty days prior to Election Day, and that the country in which they are residing approves of such voting or that it is authorized by an international agreement. The ballot paper shall only be accepted if a voter casting his vote by post also encloses a voting card in the envelope verified by a diplomatic consular representative body of the Republic of Slovenia or a body of the state in which he/she is temporarily or permanently residing. The provisions valid for elections in Slovenia shall be applied accordingly for voting by post from abroad or through diplomatic consular representative bodies of the Republic of Slovenia.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 82.
Verified:	2004/11/29

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	b. Consulates e. By mail
Comments:	Voters, who are abroad on Election Day because they have temporary or permanent residence there, may vote by post or through a diplomatic consular representative body of the Republic of Slovenia, provided that they have notified the Republic Electoral Commission not later than thirty days prior to Election Day, and that the country in which they are residing approves of such voting or that it is authorized by an international agreement.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 82.
Verified:	2004/11/29

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:	A voter shall vote by encircling the serial number before the name of the candidate for whom he/she wishes to vote. A voter may vote for only one candidate.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 73.
Verified:	2004/11/29

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Signature requirement (specify requirement) f. Other
Comments:	A political party may submit a list of candidates in every constituency, provided its lists are supported by the signatures of at least three deputies of the National Assembly. The signatures of the deputies shall be submitted to the Republic Electoral Commission on the prescribed printed forms. A political party may submit a list of candidates in a constituency provided the list of candidates has been nominated by members of the political party who have the voting right and permanent residence in the constituency, and that the list of candidates is supported by the signatures of at least fifty voters who have permanent residence in the constituency. A political party may also submit a list of candidates in a constituency if the list of candidates has not been nominated in the manner described in the preceding paragraph, provided the list of candidates is supported by the signatures of at least one hundred voters who have permanent residence in the constituency. Two or more political parties may submit a joint list of candidates.
Source:	Electoral Code
Verified:	2002/08/27

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship
Comments:	a) 18 years old.
Source:	Electoral Code, articles 7.
Verified:	2002/08/27

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	b. In presidential elections c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1) d. In legislative elections (Chamber 2)
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, article 96. Electoral Code, article 44.
Verified:	2002/08/27

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct
Comments:	Parties that entered candidates at the last elections to the National Assembly shall have the right to receive funds from the national budget if they gained at least 1 per cent of the vote nationwide and their candidates stood in at least three-quarters of the constituencies. If more than one party entered a joint list of candidates at the elections they shall have the right to receive funds from the national budget if they received at least 1.2 per cent of the votes nationwide (if the joint list was entered by two parties) or at least 1.5 per cent of the votes (if the joint list was submitted by three or more parties) and their candidates stood in at least three-quarters of the constituencies. Parties referred to in the first and second paragraphs of this article shall be entitled to 10 per cent of the funds allocated in the budget for the financing of political parties in equal shares, and shall be entitled to the remaining 90 per cent of the funds in proportion to the number of votes which they received in all the constituencies. Parties which entered a joint list of candidates shall divide the funds obtained on a proportional basis by agreement, and if no agreement has been concluded then in equal shares. Funds allocated to the financing of political parties in 2000 shall be determined in the budget of the Republic of Slovenia and may not exceed 0.017 per cent of the gross domestic product achieved in 1998, and in subsequent years may not exceed this percentage of the gross domestic product in the year prior to the adoption of the budget. The amount of funds due to each particular party shall be determined by the National Assembly at its first session following the adoption of the budget. The funds shall be paid to the parties in twelfth parts.
Source:	Law on Political Parties, articles 21 and 23.
Verified:	2004/11/29

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:	Parties that entered candidates at the last elections to the National Assembly shall have the right to receive funds from the national budget if they gained at least 1 per cent of the vote nationwide and their candidates stood in at least three-quarters of the constituencies. If more than one party entered a joint list of candidates at the elections they shall have the right to receive funds from the national budget if they received at least 1.2 per cent of the votes nationwide (if the joint list was entered by two parties) or at least 1.5 per cent of the votes (if the joint list was submitted by three or more parties) and their candidates stood in at least three-quarters of the constituencies. Parties referred to in the first and second paragraphs of this article shall be entitled to 10 per cent of the funds allocated in the budget for the financing of political parties in equal shares, and shall be entitled to the remaining 90 per cent of the funds in proportion to the number of votes which they received in all the constituencies. Parties which entered a joint list of candidates shall divide the funds obtained on a proportional basis by agreement, and if no agreement has been concluded then in equal shares. Funds allocated to the financing of political parties in 2000 shall be determined in the budget of the Republic of Slovenia and may not exceed 0.017 per cent of the gross domestic product achieved in 1998, and in subsequent years may not exceed this percentage of the gross domestic product in the year prior to the adoption of the budget. The amount of funds due to each particular party shall be determined by the National Assembly at its first session following the adoption of the budget. The funds shall be paid to the parties in twelfth parts.
Source:	Law on Political Parties, article 23.
Verified:	2004/11/29

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Law on Political Parties, articles 21 and 22.
Verified:	2004/11/29

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:	When voting is completed, the electoral committee shall immediately begin to determine the election results. First, unused ballot papers shall be counted and put in a special envelope, which is then sealed. Thereupon the electoral committee shall determine, using the electoral register and the certificates, the total number of voters who cast their votes; then it shall open the ballot box and determine the number of delivered ballot papers, the number of invalid ballot papers and the number of votes given to individual candidates. For the election of deputies of a national community, the electoral committee shall determine the preferential order of the candidates.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 84.
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:	With regard to irregularities in the work of the electoral committee or the district electoral commission at elections, each candidate, each representative of a list of candidates and each voter shall have the right to lodge an appeal with the constituency electoral commission. An appeal may be lodged within three days from the Election Day. The constituency electoral commission must reach a decision on the appeal within 48 hours. If a constituency electoral commission ascertains such irregularities of the voting at a polling station or of the work of an electoral committee which considerably affected or could affect the result of the election, it shall nullify the voting at the polling station and decree repeat elections to the extent to which the voting was nullified. If a constituency electoral commission ascertains such irregularities at the work of the district electoral commission, which considerably affected or could affect the results of the election, it shall determine the results of the election in the electoral district by itself.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 106 et seq.
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	d. Based on mixture of principles (specify)
Comments:	All candidates and parties represented in the Parliament have an equal amount of time to present themselves (equality principle). Political parties and independent candidates not represented in the Parliament must have one third of the entire programme time at their disposal. This time is determined by RTV Slovenia for all political parties and candidates included in the election, with RTV Slovenia ensuring to all parties and candidates, in the framework of the entire time they have at their disposal, equality and the same presentation conditions (equality principle).
Source:	Art. 9. of law on RTV
Verified:	2005/04/11

ME059

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	d. 6-7 days
Comments:	RTV Slovenia programmes are not allowed to publish a public opinion survey about the candidates and political parties in the last seven days before election day.
Source:	Art. 9. of the law on RTV Slovenia
Verified:	2005/04/13

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26