About 9.6% of voters had cast ballots by noon today in the second round of the election, slightly more than at the same hour in the first round, pollster Vanya Georgieva of Alpha Research told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).
She said fewer people are turning out than expected. "At this point we do not see as big a mobilisation as we expected after the first-round results and that record-low turnout," Georgieva said. She said mobilisation depends on whether the leaders behind the candidates and parties have given their supporters a clear signal, and how actively local branches are campaigning.
In the first round, the "I don't support anyone" option finished fifth by number of votes.
Georgieva said there is reason to expect slightly higher turnout in the second round, because there is always a group of undecided voters.
"Voters may also find an excuse in the bad weather," she said. In her view, the weather is more a reason for people to think about the elections that really matter. Today's vote falls on a holiday that, she said, recalls bright figures of the past who would vote today if they had the right.
Georgieva said that if a voter's candidate was knocked out in the first round, that vote does not automatically go to another candidate. She said where the votes go depends on several things.