site.btaUPDATED Central Election Commission Adopts Rules for Establishment of Polling Stations Abroad, Appointment of Section Commission Members for Oct. 27 Elections

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has adopted a decision on Friday regarding the rules and conditions for forming polling stations abroad and for appointing the members of the section election commissions for the October 27 early parliamentary elections.

Polling stations abroad are set up by the heads of the diplomatic and consular missions of Bulgaria and in compliance with the legislation of the respective country.

A Bulgarian national entitled to vote on October 27 and wishing to vote outside the country may do so by submitting an application in writing no later than 25 days before Election Day (October 1, 2024), the CEC decision reads.

The application may be signed in person and submitted in person to the diplomatic or consular representation of the Republic of Bulgaria in the country concerned; sent by letter by post or by courier service to the diplomatic or consular representation in the country concerned, and there may be more than one application in one letter, but only one person may be listed in each application; or submitted digitally through the CEC website.

The heads of the diplomatic and consular representations of Bulgaria shall draw up and sign lists of persons entitled to vote, by country and location. Lists serve to form the polling stations abroad.

No later than 21 days before Election Day (October 5, 2024), the CEC will determine the locations in the states where polling stations abroad will be formed and the number of polling stations in each location.

Polling stations shall be formed by order of the heads of diplomatic or consular missions no later than 18 days before polling day (October 8, 2024) on the basis of the previous decision of the CEC.

Where the number of voters who have voted in polling stations in elections held up to five years before polling day is more than 500, polling stations shall be formed in the relevant polling stations in the number of times the number 500 is contained in the number of voters. If there is a remainder, an additional polling station may be formed. The same shall apply where the number of applications to vote in places outside the country exceeds 500.

The CEC appoints section election commissions members for each polling station outside the country no later than 12 days before election day (October 14, 2024), the decision states.

A section election commission abroad consists of a chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary and members. In determining their composition and leadership, the proportion of parliamentary parties and coalitions shall be maintained. The proportion shall be determined after excluding from the number of members the members proposed by the Foreign Minister or his/her delegated deputy. 

The Foreign Minister shall immediately publish on the website of the Ministry the conditions and procedures for the formation of polling stations abroad. They shall also be published on the websites of the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular representations.