The conservative state is currently one of the few EU members that prohibits marriage or civil partnerships for same-sex couples. However, supporters of the proposal, including the Orthodox Church and all but one parliamentary party, want to further amend the constitution to define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman to prevent gay couples from marrying in the future. Numerous human rights groups are urging people to boycott the vote, warning that approval could lead to more attempts to undermine minority rights and push Romania towards a populist, authoritarian path. A recent poll by CURS showed a projected turnout of 34 percent, above the required 30 percent threshold, with 90 percent in favor of the change. The Coalition for the Family gathered 3 million signatures to support the amendment. The lower house of parliament approved the referendum last year, followed by the senate in September, making it the final step needed. Campaign posters from the Coalition urged people to vote "Yes" to protect family values and prevent gay couples from adopting children. Another ad suggested that voting "No" would allow a man to marry a tree. The ruling Social Democrat Party leader, Liviu Dragnea, expressed concerns about legalizing marriage between a man and an animal, stating that similar laws in other countries could be adopted in Romania. The government loosened anti-fraud monitoring and limited options for challenging the result just before the vote, while the broadcasting regulator removed a cut-off date for campaigning. According to the independent think tank Expert Forum (EFOR), there are currently no effective methods to verify fraud in the referendum. This lack of mechanisms has led to a sense of distrust in the fairness of the process. Some opposition figures believe that the ruling PSD party is using the referendum as a distraction from their leader's legal issues and conflicts with the European Commission. Former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos believes the government is trying to create anti-European sentiment in Romania to support their agenda. The Orthodox Church has expressed support for a "Yes" vote, calling it Christian, democratic, and patriotic. Romania decriminalized homosexuality in 2001, significantly later than neighboring countries, and discrimination against the LGBT community remains prevalent. Photograph title: Romania 1+2 Caption: Clergymen from Romania participate in a rally advocating for a "Yes" vote on the impending referendum. The referendum seeks to amend the constitution to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages in the future. The event took place in Draganesti, Romania on October 4, 2018. Source: REUTERS.