How to vote in Bulgaria

The European elections will take place in Bulgaria from 6 to 9 June 2024. Anyone aged 18 or over can cast a vote provided they have resided in Bulgaria or another EU country for at least three months prior to the elections. Voting is compulsory for Bulgarian citizens.

What is the date of the elections?

The European elections will take place in Bulgaria from 6 to 9 June 2024. The election date is set by the President of the Republic not later than 60 days before the election day. The election date has not been scheduled yet. 

How many Members of European Parliament (MEPs) are elected?

Voters will elect 17 MEPs in 2024, the same as in the 2019 elections.

How are the MEPs elected?

Under EU law, all countries must use voting systems that ensure proportional representation, which means that the number of elected members from each party depends on the share of electoral votes obtained by the party. Bulgaria uses preferential voting, too, which gives the voters the option to indicate their preferences within the party list they choose. Candidates who receive the most preferences are more likely to be elected.

What is the threshold for political parties to be elected?

The results of elected European Parliament members are determined by a methodology, Appendix 3 to Art.355 of the Election Code.

Is there a legal obligation to vote?

Voting is compulsory in Bulgaria, in case you don't vote no penalties are incurred.

Who is eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote in the European elections in Bulgaria if you are:

• at least 18 years of age on election day
• a Bulgarian citizen or a EU citizen having resided in a Member State of the European Union at least during the last three months before the elections, or a Bulgarian citizen residing abroad
• registered as a voter by the deadline in case you are a Bulgarian citizen residing abroad
• not banned from voting due to a judicial decision
• not serving a prison sentence

Where can I vote?

Bulgarian or EU citizen voting in Bulgaria
You have to vote at the polling station determined by the permanent address indicated on your identity cards. You can vote at a polling section related to your current address, but prior registration with the relevant local administration at your current address is required no later than 14 days before polling day.
If you have a permanent disability that prevents you to go to the polling station, you may vote from home with a mobile ballot box, but you need to declare your wish to do so not later than 14 days before elections.
Exemptions are also possible if you are a pupil and a student.
You may find information on polling stations, prior registration and voting by mobile ballot box on the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

Bulgarian citizen voting from another EU country
You can vote from another EU country in foreign representations or other polling stations, but only if you have resided in Bulgaria or in another EU country at least three months immediately before election day. Voters without a current registration in Bulgaria or another EU country are removed from the electoral lists. A voter can request to be included in the electoral lists either by the authorities prior the elections, or by the precinct election commission on election day. If you are not included in the electoral lists, you can be added on the day of the elections in the polling station upon presentation of a Bulgarian identification document and filling in a standard declaration that you meet the eligibility criteria: that you have resided for at least three months in Bulgaria or in another EU country before election day and that you have not voted and will not vote elsewhere for the same European elections. For more information on the process of voting from another EU country you can check the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

Bulgarian citizen voting from a country outside the EU
If you haven’t lived in Bulgaria or in other EU country at least three months immediately before the European elections, you can’t vote for MEPs. However, if you have lived in the EU at least three months immediately before the European election, but on the election date you are in a country outside the EU, you can vote in the Bulgarian foreign representations in this country.
For more information on where to vote if you are outside the EU check the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

Where should I register to vote?

Bulgarian citizen voting in Bulgaria
As voting is compulsory in Bulgaria, you don't need to register in advance. You will be invited to vote in the polling section related to the permanent address indicated on your identity card. However, if you want to change your polling section related to your current address, you should submit an application in a standard form to the local administration.

EU-citizen voting in Bulgaria
If you want to vote in Bulgaria, you must register on beforehand by submitting an application to your local administration.
More information on the process of registration can be found on the website of Central Election Commission.

Bulgarian citizen voting from another EU country
For more information on the process of voting from another EU country you can check the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

Bulgarian citizen voting from a country outside the EU
For more information on the process of voting from a country outside the EU you can check the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

What is the deadline for registering to vote?

Bulgarian citizen voting in Bulgaria
You do not need to register in advance, as this is done automatically by the authorities. However, if you have changed your home address recently, we advise you to check with the national election authority whether your registration on the voting lists is correct.

EU-citizen voting in Bulgaria
You have to register to vote 40 days before the elections at the very latest.
You can find more information on the process of registration on the website of Central Election Commission.

Bulgarian citizen voting from another EU country
You have to declare your intention to vote no later than 25 days before election day.
For more information on the process of voting from another EU country you can check the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

Bulgarian citizen voting from a country outside the EU
You have to declare your intention to vote no later than 25 days before election day.
For more information on the process of voting from another EU country you can check the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

What documents do I need to bring to the polling station?

You should bring your ID.

What support can I have as voter with a disability?

People with permanent disabilities may vote with a mobile ballot box, but need to declare their wish to do so not later than 14 days before elections by submitting an application form.

Where can I find easy-to-read information?

You may find easy-to-read information about elections on the website Аз Гласувам(in Bulgarian) and on the European elections easy-to-read page of this website.

Can I vote by mail, online or by proxy?

No, voting by mail, online or proxy in the European elections is not possible in Bulgaria.

Disclaimer!!

All information has been sourced from elections.europe.eu. if you would like to learn more, click here.