From today, Bulgarians in foreign countries may apply to vote abroad
19 March 2013 News
Bulgarian citizens who want to vote abroad in the upcoming May 12 2013 elections for the 42nd National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria can submit applications from March 19 to April 11 2013.
Citizens can declare their wish to vote abroad by completing and submitting an application form no later than April 11 2013. The application form for voting abroad is available at the Foreign Ministry website at http://www.mfa.bg/bg/pages/200/index.html.
The application form includes the voter’s full name as stated in the passport, personal identification number, residential address in the relevant country, permanent address in Bulgaria and the place where it is intended to vote.
In a decision taken on March 16 2013, the Central Election Commission adopted the conditions, procedures and arrangements for Bulgarian citizens voting outside the Republic of Bulgaria in the parliamentary elections. These provide that polling stations may be set up in diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad where the legislation of the host country explicitly allows it.
In urban areas where there is diplomatic or consular representation, polling stations may be set up if at least 20 voters submit an application by April 11 2013. In places where there is no diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria, a polling station may be set up if the host country agrees and no less than 100 voters submit an application by April 11 2013. If the number of people wanting to vote exceeds 1000, a new additional polling station may be opened in the respective location.
In term of the CEC decision, every voter who wants to vote submits a separate statement with a handwritten signature. This may be submitted personally by the voter to the diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in the respective country or submitted by post. This form may not be used to submit an electronic application via the CEC website or by e-mail to the Commission. The CEC is yet to announce conditions for acceptance of electronic applications to vote outside the country.
Election day begins at 7am local time and ends at 8pm local time.
On election day, a voter must present an identification document (passport, identity card or military identity card, the last-mentioned only for military personnel) and if the voter has not submitted an application to vote outside the country and was not entered in the voters’ roll, must then submit a declaration form (Appendix 22 of the Electoral Act).
More information about overseas voting in parliamentary elections can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.bg) and CEC (www.cik.bg).