Protests in Sofia and Varna against the re-introduction of the use of paper ballot

Members of the public in Sofia and Varna on November 18 protest against the reinstatement of the use of paper ballot on a par with machine voting . The protest in the coastal city of Varna started at 18:00 and in Sofia - at 18:30.

Earlier today, on the initiative of the organisation "Justice for Everyone", a civil declaration was adopted against the changes in the Electoral Code, approved at the meeting of the legal affairs committee yesterday.

In Varna, the protest is being held near the Municipality building. The protesters claim that the changes in the Electoral Code are an attack on the electoral process. They also oppose the increase in the Central Election Commission’s membership, which they say will lead to greater dependence on the commission.

The protest was organised by the local organisations of "We Continue the Change" and "Democratic Bulgaria".

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After 18-hour-long all-night meeting, the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee gave the go-ahead to revisions to the Electoral Code that would reinstate the use of paper ballots on a par with machine voting.