Bulgaria votes in April 4 Parliamentary general election

Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections on April 4 will be held during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

This is not the first elections during a pandemic. A century ago, in 1919, Bulgarians elected MPs to the 18th National Assembly during the third wave of the Spanish flu.

Bulgaria's 2021 general elections will take place in compliance with strict anti-epidemic measures, safety and infection control rules, as well as rules for quarantined citizens.

30 parties and coalitions are taking part in the elections and 6,895 MP candidates are running for 240 seats in Parliament.

6,635,654 people are eligible to vote.

For voters who will vote in the regular way - in the polling stations in their residential area, there will be two options - voting with a paper ballot or with a machine.

Voting opens at 7.00 o’clock and closes at 20.00. if there are queus of waiting voters outside polling stations, voting can be extended until 21.00.

How people who are in quarantine on election day can vote

People in quarantine will be able to vote in a mobile ballot box. Voting takes place in their homes, which they registered as permanent address. The vote is with paper ballot.

The persons under quarantine are required to have submitted a request for mobile voting by March 31. The relevant municipal/district administration conducts check if the person is included in the lists of quarantined people prepared by the Regional Health Inspectorates or the National Information System on coronavirus.

Then the person is informed by phone or e-mail that he/she is registered for mobile voting.

There are 46 mobile ballot boxes for people in quarantine.

Election staff will bring the mobile ballot box on election day to the address of the quarantined person. The members of the mobile election commissions will be equipped in protective clothing, gloves, protective face mask and shield.

Voters in quarantine are asked to comply with the anti-epidemic measures, wear a mask and keep physical distance.

How can hospitalised patients cast their ballot

A total of 199 polling stations will be set up in hospitals.

Medical staff will accompany members of the election commissions and will make sure safety measures are observed.