22 States Ban Bulgarian Expat Polls outside Diplomatic Missions

Bulgarians abroad wishing to vote in the May 12 snap general elections have a deadline of April 11 to file an application to do so. File photo

Bulgaria has sent requests to 103 countries to allow the opening of voting polls outside diplomatic missions for its voters abroad wishing to cast a ballot in the May 12 snap general elections.

Twenty two countries have already refused, including Hungary, Slovakia, Iran, North Korea, Ethiopia, and a number of Middle East and African States.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Dimitar Yaprakov, explains that some of the refusals were grounded on the need to provide security guards and others – on local legislation banning holding elections of another country outside embassies and consular offices.

Germany and Serbia, where large Bulgarian communities are located, are yet to give an answer. They have issued similar bans in previous votes.

According to the Election Code, 20 applications are needed in order to open a voting poll in a city where Bulgaria has a consular office or diplomatic representation, while where there is no such representation, the number of required applications is 100.

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