„We have all heard people talk about manipulations during the elections of the Bulgarian polling stations in Turkey. In 2017, my supporters and I went there to check the election process on the spot. According to the law, before voting, every voter had to sign a declaration that he or she did not vote in another section. However, the CEC is currently preparing a decision that the declaration in question may be signed „IN FRONT OF“ and not „AT“ the polling station.“
This was commented by Konstantin Bachiyski, according to whom this change mainly serves the MRF in Turkey.
„The question is which will be the political party, that will unite the MRF because of this change in the rules. The proposal is due to be voted on at the CEC today, March 22nd. Moreover, in Art. 233 and Art. 234 of the Electoral Code explicitly states that the preliminary distribution of papers and materials, as well as the removal of ballot papers outside the polling station is prohibited. The declaration according to a sample / Appendix N: 22 – National Assembly / is part of the list of these papers and within the meaning of the law cannot leave the boundaries of the polling station. If the new text is adopted, we will get another proof that in our country the rules are dictated by behind the scenes. This decision will support an election fraud.“
The disputed change in the methodology is expressed in the use of the preposition „IN FRONT OF“ instead of „AT“ in a specific text:
„5.3. Bulgarian citizens with voting rights, who are not included in the voting list, are added by hand by the PEC to the list and are allowed to vote, upon presentation of an identity document and a declaration form (Appendix № 22-NA). The declaration may be filled in personally by the voter in front of the polling station.„
That is why, according to Bachiyski, in the draft of the new methodology for voting of Bulgarians abroad, it should be entered that the declaration is filled in and signed personally by each voter „AT“ the polling station, and not „IN FRONT OF“ it.
Bachiyski recalled that together with 88 other like-minded people in 2017, they participated in the parliamentary elections as observers in the election process in Turkey. At that time, they insisted that all voting Bulgarian emigrants fill in and sign the declaration in question in Bulgarian before the commission, as required by law. Bachiyski also gave an example of election violations:
„One of our observers left the section for about five minutes, and when he returned, he saw other members of the commission stuffing ballots in the ballot box, but without actually having such people at the polling station.„
The truth is that this declaration certifies that a person was present and personally voted at the polling station before being added to the electoral roll. It is very important for the voter to sign the declaration before the members of the election commission. In case the voter has filled in and signed the declaration outside the polling station and without the commission certifying that he personally puts his signature, it is quite possible, in case of possible criminal or administrative liability, that the declaration has been signed by another person, who would compromise the subsequent criminal actions.
„I insist, and I expect all participants in the election campaign to do the same, that the Electoral Code and the declarations by which voters abroad certify that they did not cast their vote elsewhere be filled in and signed at the polling stations, and not in front of them.“, Konstantin Bachiyski called.
As they say, „By their deeds, you will know them.“ If the text is accepted in the variant of filling in the declarations outside the section, then we will publish the minutes of the CEC meeting so that it becomes clear to all Bulgarians which CEC party members include this text and which party members play in a team with MRF in order for all Bulgarians to draw their conclusions in time before deciding who they will vote for in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Konstantin Bachiyski threatened.
