Today is a day for reflection. According to the Election Code, election campaigning is not allowed 24 hours before election day and on election day, BTA reported.
Sociological agencies are prohibited from announcing public opinion polls on the occasion of elections in any form 24 hours before election day until the end of election day is announced on the territory of the country. The results of the sociological surveys are announced after 8:00 p.m. on election day.
On Sunday, voting begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m., but no later than 9:00 p.m., when there are voters who have not voted in front of the polling station. For sections outside the country, voting begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m., respectively 9:00 p.m. local time.
The day of reflection before the elections was introduced in 1991 after the democratic changes in Bulgaria, but between 2009 and 2011 there was no such day.
A reference on the European Parliament website indicates that in 16 EU member states there is a period of silence (day of reflection) before the day of the vote for MEPs. Usually this period begins 24 hours before the elections and ends after the closing of the polling stations. This is the practice in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
In Lithuania, the period of silence begins seven hours before election day, in France – from midnight on Saturday, and in Slovakia - 48 hours before the election.
In the Netherlands, although there are no specific provisions regulating a day of reflection, no campaigning is allowed in polling stations on election day.
Restrictions vary across Member States, with some countries prohibiting the publication of opinion polls, campaigning or political advertising during the silence period.