Turnout was 5.8% by 11:30am today, polling agency Market Links said.
Before election day, the agency forecast turnout of about 39% in the first round.
Voters are choosing a president and vice president at polling stations in Bulgaria and abroad. Each station's rules set whether people vote by machine or on paper. Stations opened at 7:00am and close at 8:00pm, but they may stay open until 9:00pm if people are still waiting in line.
Sociologist Dobromir Zhivkov said the main question of the vote is how many people will turn out. In his view, public tension over security and the escalation in the Black Sea could bring some voters to the polls.
On 19 October we reported that machines would be used in 494 polling stations in the region, while all 751 stations in Burgas's 2nd electoral district would get paper ballots.
To win in the first round, a ticket needs more than half of the valid votes. Ballots from more than half of the registered voters must also be in the boxes.