Quarantined Bulgarians will be able to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 4th. This was decided at first reading by the Committee on Legal Affairs in the National Assembly, which accepted the proposals for changes submitted by the ruling party. However, the Central Election Commission will have to decide exactly how people under mandatory isolation will vote. It will be obliged to write down the rules for the conduct of the election process no later than 50 days before the date of the vote.
There are two options for voting for quarantined persons – either with mobile ballot boxes or in specially built sections. Sections will also be opened in hospitals where there are people under mandatory isolation.
During the discussions, the BSP strongly opposed the bill, while the MRF supported it.
GERB announced that it would comply with all proposals and remarks made by the CEC in order to make it possible for the election day to run normally under the conditions of a pandemic of COVID-19.
The MRF said that they would support the bill, and between the first and second reading amendments would be introduced, but they were rather technical.
However, the BSP is adamant that the CEC is burdened with uncharacteristic obligations. They stressed that it is not a health authority to solve health problems. And then all the responsibility will fall on the Central Election Commission.
Krum Zarkov asked how exactly the CEC would decide when to have a mobile section or when people should go to a special section. According to him, this will be resolved at the last moment, and the government’s bill itself does not answer any of the questions.
The BSP would submit tomorrow its draft amendments to ensure video surveillance after the end of election day and to introduce active registration of citizens to participate in the elections, thus the voter lists will be cleared of dead souls in them.
