The CEC showed the paper ballot for the elections on October 27 and again reminded how voting is done with a machine. This happened at a briefing where the Commission reported on the preparation of the vote, reports Nova TV.
"The longest ballot will be with 28 candidates, and it will be used for voting outside the country, there are no preferences on it, all parties and coalitions participating in the vote are listed. In 23 MIR- Sofia has the most preferences, therefore the ballot has the most circles. Candidate lists from all 28 formations are registered in 10 regions, in the remaining 27 or 26," explained CEC Deputy Chairman Rositsa Mateva.
Voting with machines will be done in the same way as before - by providing a card. "Since we have one type of choice, only one ballot is displayed. 14 candidates are shown per page, the ballot is 2 or 3 pages long, depending on how many formations are registered. In the last place will be the option "don't support anyone". The voter can flip through the screens of the electronic ballot. When a party or coalition is marked, the fields for selecting preferences also become active. After making his choice, the voter presses the "view" button, being able to change his vote. When he makes a final decision, he presses "vote". "Let the people wait for the sound signal and not pull the ballot," summed up the deputy chairman of the CEC.
Regarding the storage of the machines, Mateva said that the term was extended by a decision of the Ministry of Justice - for a maximum of 3 more years. "The Ministry of the Interior and the State Security Service must inspect the premises that have been proposed for their storage. The issue with the paper has also been clarified. The BNB is responsible for the delivery, the CEC has sent the requirements to the manufacturer. The printing house of the National Bank meets the requirements, this has been established, she noted.
"Until October 12, voters with a current address other than their permanent address should submit an application for inclusion in the current address list. On the same day, voters with permanent disabilities can be registered to vote with a mobile polling station," she added.
"Today several deadlines expire - Bulgarians who live outside the country or those who intend to be abroad on the day of the vote can submit a statement - through the CEC website or in writing to the diplomatic consulates. 28,000 applications have been submitted to date. Applications for participation in sectional commissions are submitted until October 1. The RIC must appoint the composition of the SEC. Until the second of October, the representatives of parties who wish to participate in the authentication of the machines can apply for participation", revealed the deputy chairman of the CEC.
In her words, the Electoral Code provides for voting outside the country at a place chosen by the voter, while in Bulgaria it is decreed that this happens only at a permanent and current address or when voting in special sections. "On September 30, the CEC provided 10 machines with which to certify the compliance of the devices. By October 4, the diplomatic missions must send proposals for the places where sections will be formed abroad. At the beginning of next week, consultations will be held for the composition of the SIC outside Bulgaria", added Mateva.
From midnight on September 27, Bulgaria is officially in an election campaign. It lasts until October 25, and the day before the vote is set as a day for reflection by law. The elections are scheduled for October 27, which will be the seventh in a row since the beginning of the political crisis.
19 parties and 9 coalitions are entering the battle for the 51st National Assembly. They will fight for the votes of over 6.5 million Bulgarians. In total, the Central Electoral Commission will open nearly 12,000 polling stations in our country, and this time, in the polling stations with more than 300 voters, voting will also be done by machine.