CEC Awaits MFA Opinion on Overseas Polling Stations and Takes Measures for Fair Elections

We expect to receive the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) tomorrow and to already make our decision on the opening of sections abroad, said the deputy chairman and spokesperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Rositsa Mateva in the “Panorama” program on BNT. 

The CEC hoped to make the decision today, with which we determine the number and places where sections will be opened abroad, but by 8:00 p.m. we were still waiting for information from the MFA, she pointed out. Mateva expressed hope that there will be no chaos in any way due to the restriction of the number of sections abroad. She pointed out that for the first time, seven sections will be opened in our embassy in London. 

On the question of where the biggest loophole in the system of fair elections is, Mateva commented that she could not say that there were any loopholes. According to her, the most important thing for holding elections is the section election commissions.

We are taking all actions so that the section election commissions (SEC) can establish the result with the least mathematical calculations, commented the deputy chairman of the CEC. She pointed out that for the first time there will be a mobile phone application, through which the members of the SEC will fill in the electronic protocol, to check if they have correctly filled in and calculated the draft protocol. 

Mateva announced that the CEC's training with the regional election commissions, related to the training of the section commissions, continues tomorrow. She pointed out that they are paying special attention to video surveillance during the counting of votes and that the section commissions should appoint one of their members to be responsible for video surveillance and to periodically check whether the device is turned on and working and whether it covers the entire area where the votes are counted.