Bulgaria Assuages Giant Ballot Fears

Ballots, which are longer than 50 centimeters, will be wrapped several times, to accommodate them in the envelope, the authorities said. Photo by BGNES

The integral ballot in the upcoming general elections in Bulgaria will run no more than 1.20 meters, the electoral body announced Monday, denying speculations that its length may exceed two meters.

So many candidates are running in some districts in Bulgaria’s crucial general elections on May 12 that the ballot length has stirred tension among both officials and voters.

Ballots, which are longer than 50 centimeters, will be wrapped several times, to accommodate them in the envelope, the authorities said.

While previous years Bulgaria allowed all sorts of symbols and drawings on the integral ballot provided there are no personal data and only one box is marked, now it is only the X sign that will count.

Of course, there are different variants of the X sign, which will make a ballot valid.

Text markings are strictly forbidden, as well as any other signs that violate the anonymity of the voter or are different from the X sign.

During previous elections with the integral ballot, Bulgarians had the chance to fulfill their artistic impulses on the ballot and the Commission still acknowledged the vote as valid provided that there were no references to the voter's identity.

Back then the Commission tolerated even vulgar drawings, swastikas, and other insulting cartoons.

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