site.btaUPDATED 583 Election Violations Alerts Received since Campaign's Start - Interior Ministry

The Ministry of Interior has received 583 alerts about violations of election legislation and citizens' political rights between the start of the campaign for the national parliamentary and European elections and 7 p.m. on Sunday, caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said on Nova TV. The largest number of vote buying alerts have been submitted in Burgas, Varna and Sofia City, the Interior Minister said. The alerts on polling day alone approximated 180.

Anyone could report violations that hinder the normal course of the election process to the Interior Ministry's 24/7 hotline +359 2 90 112 98 and email izbori@mvr.bg, as well as on special open telephone lines and e-mails at Interior Ministry regional directorates.

A total of 100 pre-trial proceedings have been initiated so far in connection with election irregularities, Stoyanov said, adding that all of them are being handled very actively. He specified that 34 of the pre-trial proceedings are fast-track.

By at 3 p.m. on Sunday, the Bulgarian Identity Documents Unit had issued 203 certificates to citizens allowing them to vote. The total for the period since June 4 is 686.

Arrangements have been made for the normal functioning of border crossing points on election day. In the course of the day, if traffic increases and there is a risk of queues forming, the authorities are ready to temporarily introduce relaxed checks. 

Nearly 16,000 police officers are engaged in providing security on election day, Interior Ministry Secretary General Dimitar Kangaldzhiev told the media. Of these, 15,600 provide direct security at voting sections, while the remaining officers are part of vote-buying response units.

The Interior Ministry is guarding all 11,000-plus voting sections, where people carrying hazardous objects, weapons or cameras will not be allowed.

The Interior Ministry recalled that there are units working on Sunday from 8:30 am until 7:00 pm issue documents to people who have lost their IDs, so that everyone can exercise their right to vote.

The start of election day was calm, Kangaldzhiev further said. He noted that the Ministry has a 24/7 hotline and an email address where alerts can be submitted.

The unit coordinating work between the State Agency for National Security, the Interior Ministry and the prosecution service continues operations. There is also a constant exchange of information with the Central Election Commission.