Majority of Bulgarians Support Voting Rules Referendum – Poll

In a televised address to the nation at the end of January, Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev proposed a referendum on voting rules. Photo BGNES

Over half of all Bulgarians (62%) support the idea of conducting a referendum on elections legislation, according to a recent poll.

The poll has been conducted by Exacta Research Group between February 5 to 11 via direct interviews in the homes of 1 000 Bulgarians of voting age across the country. It was assigned by Focus news agency.

The strongest support comes from people between the age of 40 and 50, with college education, living in the largest cities, including the capital Sofia.

In a televised address to the nation at the end of January, Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev proposed a referendum in which Bulgarians will have their say on whether they want to elect some of their MPs directly rather than from party lists, voting made obligatory and electronic voting allowed.

The poll's results show that all three are supported by the majority of Bulgarians.

18% oppose them and among them those over the age of 50 have the highest share.

Direct election of MPs collects the strongest support – 67%. It comes from people between the age of 30 and 50 with college degrees.

Supporters of ruling partners - – the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the liberal predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, and of the ultranationalist Ataka largely oppose the idea of majority vote.

59% back the idea of online voting – again, these are people between the age of 30 and 50 with college degrees, living in the largest cities.

53% of those over the age of 59 reject this idea.

56% approve compulsory voting, but one third of the respondents reject it (the strongest opposition among the 3 ideas); they are mostly Sofia residents and those who do not cast ballots in general.

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