site.btaGERB Proposes Election Code Amendments without Single-Member Constituencies Abroad

GERB Proposes Election Code Amendments without Single-Member Constituencies Abroad

Sofia, January 12 (BTA) - The GERB Parliamentary Group Thursday tabled draft amendments to the Election Code, providing for parliamentary elections according to a two-round majoritarian system, with all 240 single-member constituencies being in the territory of the country. The bill comes complete with an impact assessment, prepared by the party's experts.

The two candidates for MPs who have garnered the most votes will contest a second round, and the one who gains a larger number of valid votes will be considered elected, Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Danail Kirilov, who shared in drafting the bill, explained to journalists. The proposed revisions will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee on Friday, GERB said in a press release.

Bulgarians abroad will be able to choose between voting by machine and paper ballots. Their votes will count against the tally in the single-member constituency where their permanent address in Bulgaria is located, Kirilov explained. Voters abroad will be subject to an active registration equirement. They will have to submit an online application form on the Central Election Commission website with the same content as the one required for voting now, but also stating their address in Bulgaria, the MP specified. According to GERB, this would help compile an electoral roll of expats which, checked against the electoral rolls at home, will provide an accurate idea of the whereabouts, status and wish of Bulgarians to vote in this country or abroad.

GERB proposes that the President of the Republic be empowered with the districting of the single-member constituencies.