The conservative state is currently one of the few EU members that does not allow marriage or civil partnerships for same sex couples. Supporters of the proposal, which includes 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 people to boycott the ballot, warning that approving the change could lead to further erosion of minority rights and a shift towards populism and authoritarianism in Romania. A recent poll by CURS showed a potential turnout of 34 percent, with 90 percent supporting the change. The Coalition for the Family collected 3 million signatures to push for the amendment. The lower house of parliament approved the referendum last year, with the senate following in September to complete the necessary stages. Some Coalition campaign posters urged for a "Yes" vote to protect family values, warning against the possibility of gay couples adopting children. On the other hand, a separate advertisement suggested that a "No" vote would allow a man to marry a tree. The leader of the ruling Social Democrat Party expressed concerns about the possibility of legalizing marriage between a man and an animal in Romania. In the days leading up to the vote, the government loosened anti-fraud measures and restricted options for challenging the outcome, while the broadcasting regulator removed the deadline for campaigning. Independent think tank Expert Forum (EFOR) stated that there are no effective mechanisms in place to verify fraud for the referendum, leading to a lack of trust in the fairness of the process. Some opposition politicians and activists believe that the ruling party, PSD, is using the referendum as a distraction from its leader's legal issues and conflicts with the European Commission. The appeal of Liviu Dragnea, who is facing a conviction in an abuse of office case, is scheduled to begin on October 8, one day after the vote. Former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos suggested that the government's plan is to create anti-European sentiment in Romania to deflect criticism from European officials regarding the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. The government has denied these allegations, while the Orthodox Church has endorsed a "Yes" vote as being Christian, democratic, and patriotic. Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, much later than its neighboring countries, and discrimination against the LGBT community remains widespread. Photograph titled "Romania 1+2" shows Romanian clergymen participating in a rally to support a "Yes" vote on an upcoming referendum. The referendum proposes changes to the constitution to prevent the future recognition of same-sex marriages in Draganesti, Romania on October 4, 2018. Image credit: REUTERS.