719 polling stations are open in 57 countries for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Bulgaria on 27 October.
This was stated by CEC Deputy Chairman Tsvetozar Tomov in connection with the preparation and production of the elections for MPs, reports BGNES.
Tomov said that due to the deteriorated situation in Israel and Lebanon, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the polling stations in Tel Aviv and Beirut were cancelled.
"At the moment, we have no problems with meeting the deadlines set in the timetable for the organisation of the elections. Preparations are proceeding within these deadlines," the CEC deputy chairman said, pointing out that from October 1 to 8, the commission adopted 39 decisions relevant to the organisation of the electoral process.
The deadline for the formation of polling stations by orders from the heads of diplomatic and consular missions around the world expires today.
"The deadline for Bulgarian citizens to submit applications to vote outside the country ended on 1 October. A total of 30 689 applications were submitted," Tomov said, noting that this number is less than the number of applications submitted in previous elections.
The main reasons for this, he said, were the declining voter turnout both inside and outside the country.
"The second reason has to do with the fact that with so many parliamentary elections being held recently, many polling stations are being opened on the basis of Article 14(3) of the Electoral Code, i.e. where 100 or more voters have voted in previous elections in the last five years, and this is affecting people's motivation to submit applications," he said, pointing out that knowing that a polling station will be opened, people are not as inclined to submit applications.
Tomov urged people who want to vote outside the country in the next elections to submit applications because it makes it easier for the CECs to prepare for the elections. "People who have applied are put on the electoral rolls in advance, and if they haven't applied, they have to be topped up on election day, which sets the stage for a slower election day," he explained.
The CEC deputy chairman reminded that all Bulgarian citizens who missed the deadline for submitting an application to vote outside the country have the opportunity to vote at a polling station of their choice abroad, even though they have not submitted such an application, and they must submit a declaration that they have not voted and will not vote elsewhere.
Consultations on the composition of the electoral commission are currently taking place, two days before the deadline of 10 November. "All the political parties represented in Parliament are taking part in these consultations, in addition to representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There are no participants from other political parties," Tomov added.
After the consultations are over, a decision on the composition of the CECs is to be taken, and parties and coalitions can make proposals for changes, compared to the initial proposals they made, until 19 October at the latest.
Applications for voting by residence can be submitted electronically or through the municipal administrations until 12 October.
12 October is also the deadline for applications for mobile voting.
"Today, the CEC adopted a decision on determining the conditions and procedure for the formation of polling stations in medical institutions, in homes for the elderly and in other specialised institutions for the provision of social services, as well as in places of deprivation of liberty and detention," Tomov said.
The CEC deputy chairman commented that there are always disputes at the consultations, but an agreement has always been reached. "The situation with internal conflicts in the MRF is well known. It is too early to say how things will unfold at today's consultations because they started at 10.30 am and the usual time for them to take place so far has not been less than 12 hours," he explained, adding that there is not enough information on whether there is an understanding or not at this stage.
Tomov hopes that the representatives from the two factions of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms will resolve the conflicting situations with an agreement between them. "The CEC cannot make the decision for them, given that they have legitimate rights to participate in consultations on both sides," he added.
It is yet to be discussed and agreed to have an authorized CEC representative in charge of elections in Turkey.
The so-called trusted source code construction for the voting machines is also to be implemented. | BGNES
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