CEC allows the use of voting screens with paper ballots from previous elections, discusses issues around machine voting and ballot printing control

The Central Election Commission (CEC) does not object to the use of the voting booths secured so far for paper ballots, used in previous elections, including those with minor deviations from the parameters defined by the commission. This was announced by the deputy chair of the CEC, Rositsa Mateva, during today's online broadcast session. She explained that there is a letter from March 13 from the “Elections” working group to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking whether the available booths in diplomatic missions can be used, as well as those provided by other countries, with minor deviations from the parameters.

In connection with an inquiry from the Regional Election Commission (REC) - Sliven, regarding the fact that the municipality has secured voting booths from previous elections that differ in width from the minimum specified, the CEC commented that the provision of voting booths is not an activity assigned to the REC; the Election Code assigns this obligation to the executive branch, so municipal administrations must resolve it with regional administrations and the Council of Ministers.

In response to a written question from MP Ivan Belchev (“We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria”) regarding student voting, the CEC reminded that students can vote at the place where they are studying, if it is different from their permanent address, with a certified student card and by signing a declaration that they will not vote or have not voted elsewhere.

In connection with the provision of voting machines, Emil Voynov, deputy chairman of the commission, raised the question of whether the CEC should send a letter to “Information Services” requesting the issuance of new digital certificates on smart cards for 9354 machines in the country.

It was also announced at the meeting that letters had been received from the BNB printing house, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Interior for the coordination of the draft decision on control in the printing of paper ballots, as well as a letter from the executive director of the BNB printing house, reminding the CEC to send an official letter to start the process of printing the rolls of specialized paper. If production does not officially start from March 17, there is a risk that the production schedule will be significantly disrupted, the printing house warns.

The CEC also authorized its chair, Kamelia Neykova, to sign an agreement with the SMC for cooperation in monitoring the pre-election campaign.