BULGARIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REVOKED COMPULSORY VOTING SANCTIONS

Compulsory voting but no sanctions if people chose not to go to the polls. The Bulgarian Constitutional Court ruled on 23rd of February to overturn the sanction envisaged in the Electoral Code for those who do not exercise the right to vote in the compulsory voting.

The revoked provision stated that anyone who did not to vote in two successive elections of the same type, without a valid excuse, would be removed from electoral rolls in the next elections.

Unanimously with the votes of all 11 judges, the Constitutional Court ruled that the provision is contrary to the texts of the Basic Law related to ensuring individual rights and not allowing their reduction or cancellation.

The court explained that only the provision regarding the sanctions was referred to them for consideration. The rest of the Electoral Code’s provisions related to compulsory voting remain unchanged.