site.btaGermany Limits Polling Station Locations to 40, Says CEC Spokesperson

Germany does not allow the establishment of polling stations in more than 40 locations, although more than one voting section may be set up at some of them, Central Election Commission (CEC) spokesperson Rositsa Mateva said on Thursday at a regular weekly briefing on the April 19 elections.

On Wednesday, the Bulgarian News Agency received information from a Bulgarian citizen in Konstanz, Germany, according to whom 67 Bulgarian citizens had submitted applications for a polling station in the city, but no such station was opened. Under the Election Code, at least 40 applications are required to establish a polling station abroad.

Mateva noted that 70 polling stations will be opened in Germany, adding that in recent years Germany has only twice allowed polling stations in more than 40 locations.

Polling stations are established based on proposals by the heads of diplomatic or consular missions, taking into account the possibility for voters from nearby areas, where applications have been submitted and there is a basis to open a station but no permission has been granted, to vote at a convenient location.

Germany will host the largest number of polling stations abroad for the April vote.

Mateva said that six complaints have been filed against the CEC’s decision on polling stations abroad for the April 19 elections.

She also noted that a person residing abroad who is on a business trip in Bulgaria on election day cannot vote. Under the Election Code, Bulgarian citizens abroad may vote at any polling station of their choice. However, citizens within the country who are not at their permanent address or have not submitted a request to vote at a current address may vote only if they are in a medical facility, another social institution or in detention, she explained.

Mateva said that the CEC has received numerous calls from voters who will be on holiday or in a spa facility. “We explain that if the location is not a medical institution, a polling station cannot be established there and voting is not possible. We recommend that, if these locations are near a border, voters travel to a neighbouring country to vote. These are the options provided by the Election Code,” she said.