site.btaDay of Election Silence, Campaigning Prohibited

Saturday is a day of election silence, or the day of reflection. Under the Election Code, campaigning is prohibited during the 24 hours preceding election day and on election day itself.

Polling agencies are not allowed to publish public opinion polls related to the elections in any form during the 24 hours before election day until the official end of voting in the country. The results of such surveys may be announced after 8:00 p.m. on election day.

On Sunday, voting begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m., but may continue until no later than 9:00 p.m. if there are still voters waiting at polling stations. For polling stations abroad, voting also starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m., or 9:00 p.m. local time if necessary.

The day of election silence was introduced in 1991 following the democratic changes in Bulgaria, although it was not observed between 2009 and 2011.

According to the European Parliament, 16 EU member states observe a "silence period" before elections to the European Parliament. This period typically begins 24 hours before election day and ends after polling stations close. This practice is followed in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain.

In Lithuania, the silence period begins seven hours before election day; in France, it starts at midnight on Saturday; and in Slovakia, it begins 48 hours before the elections.

In the Netherlands, although there are no specific legal provisions establishing a day of election silence, campaigning is not allowed inside polling stations on election day.

Restrictions vary across EU member states, with some countries prohibiting the publication of opinion polls, campaigning, or political advertising during the silence period.