Citizens will have the opportunity to test the machine voting process even before election day itself. This was announced by the Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ivan Vasilev, following a meeting with representatives of the Central Election Commission (CEC). The discussions were dedicated to the overall preparation and organization of the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential elections, scheduled for October 25, 2026.

During a briefing at the National Assembly, Vasilev explained that access to the machines will be provided by upgrading the existing mobile application used by members of the sectional election commissions. The software tool will be redesigned to offer two separate functionalities: one for commission members and a second one specifically intended for voters. Through it, every citizen will be able to go through a full simulation of the voting process to familiarize themselves in advance with the appearance of the ballot and the specific steps for operating the devices.

The Minister specified that the initiative was the idea of the new composition of the CEC, and the relevant ministry will provide the necessary support for its implementation. In his role as a coordinator appointed by the Council of Ministers, Ivan Vasilev emphasized the importance of ensuring the upcoming electoral process is conducted in the most honest, open, and transparent manner possible. In this regard, he outlined several key commitments:

  • Providing access to the code that certifies the machines;
  • Access to the protocols that guarantee the technical reliability of the devices;
  • The opportunity for observers to be present directly during the entry of election results.

BurgasMedia recalls that as early as August 13, the CEC adopted an official schedule for the presidential and vice-presidential elections. Last week, the Council of Ministers made a key decision regarding the preparation and conduct of the vote in the Republic of Bulgaria on October 25, 2026. In addition, today the government approved the specific budget plan for organizing the elections, with the government press office announcing that the allocated funds amount to 116,928.0 thousand euros.