Bulgaria to Open 493 Polling Stations in 55 Countries for Parliamentary Vote

President Iliana Yotova convened a meeting of institutions responsible for the conduct of the early parliamentary elections on April 19, with a focus on assessing preparedness and ensuring that every vote is properly safeguarded. She stressed that it is essential to evaluate whether the country has met its commitment to deliver a “fair and transparent” electoral process in which citizens can have confidence at every stage, from the campaign period to election day.

Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said the meeting comes at a crucial moment, describing it as timely given the government’s priority to guarantee a transparent vote. She confirmed that preparations are being carried out so that Bulgarian citizens abroad can fully exercise their electoral rights, noting that interest in overseas voting is particularly high this cycle.

According to Neynsky, a total of 60,904 applications have been submitted from abroad, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize voting in 493 polling stations across 55 countries. She explained that the structure of polling stations remains broadly similar to previous elections, with specific restrictions applied in the United Kingdom, the United States and Turkey, where no more than 20 polling stations may be set up outside diplomatic and consular missions.

She also said that, in line with legal requirements and CEC decisions, there are no expected difficulties in organizing the vote abroad. Almost all diplomatic and consular staff are involved in the process, and the ministry has even proposed not opening polling stations in certain Middle Eastern countries due to the security situation, without receiving objections.

Central Election Commission representatives added that voting machines stored for use abroad, numbering around 130, will be transferred to the relevant locations. The CEC chair also noted that electoral district maps for both domestic and overseas voting will be published, while additional institutions, including the Interior Ministry and the state IT provider, are also involved in coordinating the process.