site.btaSanctions to Be Imposed on Section Election Commission Members Who Allowed Foreign Minister to Vote with Photo ID

The members of the section election commission (SEC) who allowed Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev to vote with only a photo ID in the elections for mayor of Sofia's Slatina borough will be sanctioned, Municipal Election Commission Chair Polina Vitanova told the Bulgarian News Agency on Thursday.

"We received a tip-off with an uploaded video showing Georg Georgiev voting after presenting his ID card only in a photo on his phone," Vitanova said. "This was confirmed after we talked to the SEC members. They will be issued violation certificates. The fine is between BGN 20 and BGN 200," she added.

The Municipal Election Commission Chair explained that it is not a voter's violation as anyone can intentionally or due to ignorance attempt to vote even with a driver's license or international passport. "It is a violation of the CEC as they are the ones aware of the rules," Vitanova said.

The Municipal Election Commission's decision states that an administrative violation of the Election Code (EC) was found. It is subject to challenge before the Central Election Commission within three days of its publication.

The decision states that nowhere in the EC, or elsewhere in a code, does the legislature allow a voter the right to prove his or her identity through a photo ID or any electronic form. In this sense, proof of the voter's identity is only and solely by presenting the original identity card or (green) passport for those born before December 31, 1931.