Sofia Electoral Commission Escapes Runoff Chaos

Sofia election officials found creative ways to spend the night last Sunday while waiting to deliver the ballots and the protocols from their voting polls. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The submission of ballots and protocols from voting polls to the Sofia Municipal Electoral Commission (OIC) went swiftly Sunday night.

The Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, and the TV channel bTV reported Monday morning that the process of turning in voting polls' runoff documentation had concluded by midnight unlike the first round of the country's local and presidential elections one week ago.

At 8 pm Sunday, hundreds of voting polls' election officials had formed a long line in front of the Sofia Universiada Hall, where the documentation is turned in, but, according to OIC Head, Marina Belcheva, half of the capital's voting protocols have been processed by 10 pm, while at 9 pm those first in line went home.

OIC reports fewer mistakes in the protocols, compared to the first round, which had contributed to the faster processing, along with the Commission being staffed with more technical help this time around.

In the aftermath of the October 23 presidential and local elections, the Sofia Municipal Electoral Commission (OIC) was overrun by total disarray over poor organization and long delays in the counting of ballots, which continued well into the night.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!