The conservative state is currently one of the few EU members that does not allow marriage or civil partnerships for same-sex couples. However, supporters of a proposed change, including the Orthodox Church and almost all parliamentary parties, want to amend the constitution to define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman in order to prevent gay couples from marrying in the future. Many human rights groups are urging a boycott of the ballot, warning that approving the change could lead to further erosion of minority rights and move Romania towards a populist, authoritarian direction. A recent poll predicted a turnout of 34 percent, with 90 percent in favor of the change, surpassing the required 30 percent threshold. The Coalition for the Family collected 3 million signatures in support of the change. The lower house of parliament approved the referendum last year, followed by the senate in September, making it the final necessary step. Some Coalition campaign posters encouraged people to vote "Yes" to protect family values, warning that gay couples could potentially adopt their children if they did not. Another advertisement claimed that a "No" vote would allow a man to marry a tree. The leader of the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, expressed concerns about legalizing marriage between a man and an animal, citing examples from other countries. In the days leading up to the vote, the government loosened anti-fraud measures, restricted challenges to the result, and the broadcasting regulator removed the campaign cut-off date. According to the independent think tank Expert Forum (EFOR), there are currently no effective methods to verify fraud in the referendum, creating a sense of distrust in the fairness of the process. Some opposition politicians and activists believe the ruling party PSD is using the vote to distract from its leader's legal issues and conflicts with the European Commission. Former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos accuses the government of trying to create an anti-European sentiment to justify their actions against the judicial system and anti-corruption efforts. The government denies these allegations, while the Orthodox Church believes a "Yes" vote is in line with Christian, democratic, and patriotic values. Romania legalized homosexuality in 2001, long after neighboring countries, and discrimination against the LGBT community is common. The photo is titled "Romania 1+2" and shows Romanian clergymen participating in a rally to support a "Yes" vote for an upcoming referendum. The referendum aims to make changes to the constitution to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages in the future. This event took place in Draganesti, Romania on October 4, 2018. The information was provided by REUTERS.