site.btaCiela Norma to Provide Machine Voting in June Elections

Ciela Norma will provide the machine voting in the elections for members of the Bulgarian and European parliaments on June 9, the Central Election Commission (CEC) decided. The CEC announced that the company won both positions in the public procurement - for preventive maintenance and diagnostics of the machines and their peripherals - printer and smart card reader, preparation, installation of the operating system and application software, completion, as well as technical maintenance of the machines in the pre-election and on election day, including a support centre in case of problems.

Ciela Norma will also be responsible for the transport of the machines to the polling stations in the country and their logistical support during the pre-election and post-election days.

CEC chair Kamelia Neykova is to sign the contracts for the two separate positions.

On April 29, the serial numbers of a total of ten voting machines that will undergo compliance verification ahead of the upcoming two-in-one elections were drawn at random during a public process at the Ministry of e-Governance.

The drawing of the numbers was attended by caretaker Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitar Glavchev, caretaker Minister of e-Governance Valentin Mundrov, and representatives of the Central Election Commission and its Public Council. Representatives of the parties in Parliament were also invited and attended the public drawing. 

Representatives of the media also participated in the drawing of the serial numbers to make the procedure as transparent as possible, and one of them was drawn by a BTA reporter.

"We will take all measures in every area to have fair elections," said caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev. He thanked the journalists for taking part in the drawing of the numbers of the machines to be certified. I really want everyone to make sure that in the whole process everything will be public and transparent and in front of the eyes of all Bulgarian citizens. "You have seen and made sure with your own eyes what is happening, and through you the Bulgarian citizens will also be convinced," Glavchev said.