Bulgaria's Central Election Commission (CIK) briefed representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) today on preparations for the presidential and vice-presidential election on 25 October 2026, the CIK press office said.

Commission members explained to the international observers how the voting system works and how a president and vice president are chosen. They covered the legal requirements for electing a head of state and the rules for putting forward candidates. They also showed how voting works and how the commission makes sure the vote is lawful.

The CIK also described the steps for a large information campaign before the election. Its aim is to keep voters informed and encourage them to vote.

Both sides discussed how to raise turnout, including by giving people more information. The CIK says many countries in the Black Sea region have low turnout.

The commission keeps up an active dialogue with international observers and election experts, and the meeting with PABSEC is part of it. In such talks, the two sides swap good practice on democratic processes and elections.

The CIK has also met other observers, from the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and the organisation Electio Lab. Representatives of the US, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Portugal, Hungary, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Argentina, South Africa and other countries have spoken with commission members.