Hours remain until the end of the election campaign. How is the preparation for the 2 in 1 elections on Sunday going and what are theparticularities of the vote in "Around the world and in our country" more information was given by the chairman of the CEC, Kamelia Neikova.
For the first time in Bulgaria, we will go to the polls to elect the EP and NA at the same time. Is the CEC ready for the elections on Sunday?
"Yes. For the first time, we will vote on the same date. The CEC is fully ready for the vote on Sunday," said Kamelia Neikova from the CEC.
Is there a difference in voting for the two types of elections?
"There is no difference in the country. There is a difference outside the country, as preferences are not noted in elections for the National Assembly outside the country. The ballot for EU members is the same, both in-country and out-of-country. There is a difference in voting rights. Voters who have the right to vote in elections for the European Parliament must meet the requirement of having an address registration in Bulgaria or another EU member state three months before election day.
Is there a difference in the color of the ballots for one and the other vote?
"The paper ballots for the NC are in green and for the EU in blue".
In which cases will voting be done by machine only?
"If the voter has electoral rights for both types of election, he can choose whether to vote by machine or by paper ballots. If the voter does not have voting rights for members of the EP... Because for the National Assembly there will probably be no voters who do not have voting rights, then they will only vote with a paper ballot.
Can a citizen decide to vote for one vote at one time and the other vote at another time on election day?
"No. It is not allowed. With one visit, the voter must exercise his vote depending on his desire in which elections he wishes to vote.
And how long does this have to be declared?
"No. It is not declared in advance. It is declared at the polling station. He tells the sectional election commission that he wishes to vote in either or both elections. And after leaving the polling station, he cannot return to vote again.
There were fears that there could be manipulation on Sunday. What should happen to these books?
"The rolls of unused paper from last year's elections had to be destroyed by May 27. Not only the local ones, but also those for the National Assembly. These are rolls that did not enter the electoral process at all, but they are old rolls. And with a view to not allowing mixing of old with the current rolls, the CEC sent this instruction. I say again - to all municipalities".
She added that yesterday they had a meeting with the Ministry of Interior and they have a written notification that the premises in question are guarded. Kamelia Neikova told all those who are trying to make a grand scandal out of this issue that "everything is fine with machine voting".
"So we are fully prepared for the machine voting on Sunday," said the chairman of the CEC.