site.btaLocal Elections Run-Off Proceeding Normally

Local Elections Run-Off Proceeding Normally

Sofia, November 1 (BTA) - The second round of voting in the
Bulgarian local elections on Sunday is proceeding normally
across the country, Central Election Commission (CEC) Spokesman
Alexander Andreev told journalists. The Interior Ministry added
that the process is unfolding peacefully. Steps have been taken
to maintain public order and no serious irregularities have been
 detected.

Before noon, average voter turnout was 8.66 per cent, which is a
 rather low level for this time of day, according to another CEC
 spokesman, Tsvetozar Tomov.

At 1 p.m., voter turnout in Sofia stood at 7.7 per cent.

Voting day began at 6 a.m. local time and will end at 7 p.m. Its
 duration may be extended until 8 p.m. in stations where there
are still voters by the closing hour.

A total of 1,128 communities are conducting a run-off to elect
mayors. These include 133 municipalities, 970 mayoralties, and
25 boroughs in the largest cities.

Inmates of three prisons and three detention facilities are
entitled to cast ballots in the run-off, the Justice Ministry
reported.

The Prosecution said that pretrial proceedings have been
launched in 146 cases of suspected violations of election rules
since the first round. Eight people have been convicted of
crimes against the political rights of citizens.