Info

Bulgaria

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	For the purposes of holding elections, the territory of the country shall be divided into 31 multi-seat constituencies, including three constituencies in the city of Sofia and two constituencies in the city of Plovdiv. The other constituencies shall coincide with the boundaries of administrative regions.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 39:1.
Verified:	2009/08/24

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
Comments:	For the purposes of holding elections, the territory of the country shall be divided into 31 multi-seat constituencies, including three constituencies in the city of Sofia and two constituencies in the city of Plovdiv. The other constituencies shall coincide with the boundaries of administrative regions.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 39:1.
Verified:	2009/08/24

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	a. Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments:	And the President.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 39. Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 93:4 & 93:5.
Verified:	2009/08/24

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	c. Indirectly elected by legislature/chosen by parliament
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 99.
Verified:	2009/08/24

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 92.
Verified:	2009/08/24

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 62-64.
Verified:	2009/08/24

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 6:1 & 6:2.
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:	a) Partially regulated in Constitution b) Completely regulated in separate legislation in accordance with the Constitution; there are five separate laws for different elections and also a Law on referenda
Source:	Constitution. Political Parties Act. Elections of Members of Parliament Act. Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2009/08/24

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections d. Referendums e. Other
Comments:	Presidential and parliamentary elections, for members of the European Parliament and local elections. General local elections are held every 4 years and are considered as nationwide. There are many different electoral laws that regulate these different elections.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act and other Election Laws
Verified:	2009/08/24

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 3.
Verified:	2009/08/24

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary b. EMB
Comments:	Formal electoral disputes have no uniform forum. It depends on the dispute to determine which forum is competent. (Electoral Management Body, Court, Constitutional Court.)
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 24:3., art. 28:8-9., art. 32:4., art. 40:3., art. 48:3 & art. 58:1. Presidential Elections Act: art. 7:2., art. 10(f):3., art. 10(n):1-5 & art. 18:3. Political Parties Act: art. 9:4 & art. 23:2.
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Central Election Commission
Website Address: N/A 	

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/10/30

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level b. Regional level c. Local level
Comments:
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament: art. 23. Other Election Laws.
Verified:	2009/08/24

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature d. A national government department
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 84. Elections of Members of Parliament: art. 7.
Verified:	2009/08/24

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	d. A national government department
Comments:
Source:	Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2007/01/31

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	For the election period and after that for the term of the body elected; for example the Central Election Commission for Parliamentary Elections exists until the next parliamentary elections, i.e. 4 years.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament: art. 8. Presidential Elections Act: art. 5.
Verified:	2009/10/30

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body d. National Government g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations h. Political parties/ candidates i. Media
Comments:
Source:	Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2007/01/31

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2007/01/31

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	l. Other
Comments:	It is part of the school program.
Source:	Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2007/01/31

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:	18 years
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 3:1.
Verified:	2009/08/24

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:	Electors must be citizens of EU-countries
Source:	Election Laws and Constitution. Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2009/08/24

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	a. Central Government Department (specify)
Comments:	Election rolls shall be printed on the basis of the National Population registrar by the Civil Registration and Administrative Services Department at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 27:1. Other election laws.
Verified:	2009/08/24

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act: art. 26.
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Comments:	Certificates shall be issued for voting elsewhere to voters who have stated in advance that they will not vote in the district of their permanent address. These voters can vote elsewhere than at the specified polling station in the locality where they are registered for national elections.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act, article 36 (paragraph 1).
Verified:	2009/08/24

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	b. Citizens residing outside the country
Comments:
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act, article 37.
Verified:	2009/08/24

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	a. Embassies b. Consulates
Comments:	Diplomatic missions and some other places.
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act, article 41 (paragraph 8). Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2009/08/24

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	The voting is either by integral ballots (with the names of parties and/or candidates on one ballot) or by separate ballots for different parties and/or candidates
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act, article 87 (paragraph 2 and subparagraph 1).
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Signature requirement (specify requirement) b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments:	Legally registered parties can run candidates after collecting a number of signatures and paying a deposit. A political party shall be established at a constituent assembly by the agreement of at least 500 citizens with voting rights. The constituent assembly shall adopt a Statute and shall elect the party leadership bodies.
Source:	Political Parties Act, article 7.
Verified:	2009/08/24

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship
Comments:	a) 21 years old. b) EU-citizenship
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act, article 3 (paragraph 2).
Verified:	2009/08/24

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	b. In presidential elections c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:
Source:	Elections of Members of Parliament Act, article 6 paragraph (1). Presidential Elections Act, article 11(a) paragraph (8).
Verified:	2009/08/24

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"(paragraph 2) and articles 64-66.
Verified:	2009/08/24

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:
Source:	Political Parties Act, article 18.
Verified:	2009/08/24

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	There are some restrictions however.
Source:	Political Parties Act, article 17.
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Election Laws. Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2009/08/24

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	e. Court order
Comments:
Source:	Election Laws. Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections Presidential Elections Act.
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	h. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Law for Election of National Representatives Art 71
Verified:	2005/11/15

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	a. Yes, in presidential elections b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	Also in local elections and elections for members of the European Parliament
Source:	Mihail Konstantinov, Vice-chair of the Central Election Commissions of Bulgaria for Parliamentary and for Local Elections
Verified:	2007/01/31

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	a. 1 day
Comments:	(1.)Election campaign shall not be permitted from 12 a.m. before the election day to 8 p.m. on the election day. (2.) Results from polling the public opinion related to the elections cannot be made public within the period under para 1.
Source:	Law for Election of National Representatives Art 59/1,2
Verified:	2007/01/31

ME080

Maximum amount for paid advertising

Question:	Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:	c. No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2009/08/24

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	There are nationwide and local referendums possible, as well as signatures and (local) general assemblies of the population. No nationwide referendum has been carried out since 1989 (neither before). Local (municipal) referendums have been carried out in several occasions since 1989.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria (adopted July, 1991): Article 10; Article 84, point 5. Law for Referendums (adopted November 1996, modified 1999), Article 2. "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria (adopted July, 1991): Article 10; Article 84, point 5. "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	National referendums shall be called by the National Assembly based on a proposal by a) 1/4 of the MPs (the total number of MPs is 240), b)the Council of Ministers and c) the President of the Republic. No initiatives and no recalls are provided in the existing legislation as well as mandatory referendums.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria (adopted July, 1991): Article 10; Article 84, point 5. Law for Referendums (adopted November 1996, modified 1999), Article 6 "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2006/11/30

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	"Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	"Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	"Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	b. Sometimes binding
Comments:	Unless a special law requires an additional approval.
Source:	"Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm) Law for referendums, article 3
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:	Issues of the competency of the Great National Assembly, the Juridical System and the Constitutional Court as well as issues for which a special law is adopted.
Source:	"Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm) Law for referendums, article 5
Verified:	2009/08/24

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	A municipality is the basic administratively-territorial unit in which self-administration is carried out. Citizens participate in the government of the municipality both through their elected organs of local self-administration and also directly through a referendum or a general meeting of the population.
Source:	"Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook", (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm) Constitution, article 136.
Verified:	2009/08/24