site.btaInstitutions Prepare for Early Parliamentary Elections with Focus on Transparency, Security, Voting Abroad

Bulgaria is intensifying preparations for the early parliamentary elections on April 19, with authorities emphasizing fairness, technical readiness, and the prevention of electoral violations both domestically and abroad.

"It is extremely important to see whether we have fulfilled our promise to conduct fair and transparent elections," President Iliana Iotova said during a meeting here on Wednesday with the institutions responsible for organizing the vote. "It is crucial to assess how far we have come in preparing for the elections. At this stage, we need to see whether we have delivered on our promise to hold normal, fair, and transparent elections, so that every Bulgarian vote counts and people have no doubts about the electoral campaign, the preparation process, or election day itself."

Iotova emphasized that the meeting was not merely formal or administrative. "I have set aside enough time to hear from each of you," she told attendees. She explained that the meeting was divided into two parts: the country's readiness for voting abroad, and the internal processes, risks, and the effectiveness of institutions' work. Participants included members of the Central Election Commission (CEC), caretaker Minister of e-Government George Sharkov, caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky, Deputy Interior Minister Ivan Anchev, and Information Services CEO Ivaylo Filipov.

Domestic Voting and Voting Machines Deployment

Voting machines will be used in 9,354 polling stations across Bulgaria, while 2,641 stations will operate with paper ballots only, CEC Chair Kameliya Neykova said. Each machine-equipped station will have one device, 172 mobile polling stations will be established, and approximately 11,650 stations will be under video surveillance.

Neykova noted that preparations are proceeding according to legal deadlines, adding that these will be Bulgaria’s 11th national elections since 2021, alongside over 170 partial elections during this period. The CEC is taking a stricter approach this time regarding previous election practices, such as mass replacement of section election commission (SEC) members by parliamentary parties. “This time, replacements are only allowed with a legally valid, signed statement from the individual concerned,” she explained. Checks are also being conducted against individuals who committed violations in prior elections, particularly those involved in constitutional challenges. Installation of voting machines in Bulgaria will begin after Easter, with constituency election commissions conducting training for SEC members in the coming days.

Preparations for Voting Abroad

A total of EUR 6,835,500 has been allocated to organize voting abroad, covering all planned activities, caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said. A total of 493 polling stations will be opened in 55 countries.

According to CEC Chair Neykova, voting machines will be deployed in 130 polling stations across 20 countries, prioritized in locations where higher turnout is expected.

The Foreign Ministry has processed over 2,000 election-related documents and established a secure cloud system for real-time transmission of electoral data. Technical and communication support has been provided to overseas polling stations, including the purchase of new equipment. Bulgarian citizens abroad have submitted twice as many applications compared to the 2024 elections, with particularly high numbers in the United Kingdom. Neynsky expressed hope that this interest will translate into higher turnout. The CEC will also publish an electoral map of polling stations. Six legal cases challenging the Commission’s decisions on overseas polling stations have been dismissed.

Preventing Violations and Ensuring Security 

Deputy Interior Minister Ivan Anchev emphasized that the Ministry of Interior is actively working to prevent violations of election law. Measures are being implemented according to an approved plan with defined responsibilities, deadlines, and operational taskforces. A national interagency unit, involving the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Interior, and the State Agency for National Security, has been established. Since March 19, a 24-hour hotline has been operational for reporting election-related issues, supported by 198 police officers designated to monitor and process reports.

Digital Monitoring and Cybersecurity 

After the close of polls on April 19, SECs will be checked to ensure that live online video broadcasts of ballot counting and protocol completion are functioning, caretaker Minister of e-Government George Sharkov said. During the first hour, checks will be conducted every five minutes, then every ten minutes thereafter. Data will be sent in real-time to the CEC and constituency commissions. A call center has also been set up to assist polling stations with technical issues.

Over 100 government experts will verify that voting machine codes match the approved versions, a process already underway with the first 130 machines for overseas voting. Additionally, several independent observers will monitor video streams using artificial intelligence to detect unusual behavior, though this tool is not a formal ministry resource and will be further discussed with the CEC, said Sharkov. 

A national cyber situational center has also been activated. Mandated by the Cybersecurity Act but previously not continuously operational, the center will monitor cyber and hybrid threats during the election period.