Bulgaria

Population Statistics

7,186,893

Total Population

1,078,034

Population with a disability

according to World Health Organization’s 15% estimate

Election Dates

22 March 2012

Ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities


Election Code (2013)

Updated: June 2015

Article 29, pargraph 1 states:

The District election commission shall: …

(6) see to ensuring conditions for voting by persons with locomotor or sight impairment…

 

Article 36, paragraph 1 states:

The Precinct election commission within Bulgaria…

  • (2) Assist to the arrangement of the polling site … with a view to ensuring access to voting for persons with locomotor or sight impairment...

 

Article 73 states:

(1) Where in a multi-storey building there are Polling stations on floors above ground level… the constituency or the municipal election commissions shall adopt a decision designating a Polling station on the first floor (ground floor)… for voting by voters with locomotor or sight impairment.

(2) A sign and other distinguishing marks, showing the additional assigned purpose of the Polling station referred to in Paragraph 1, shall be placed in front of the said Polling station.

 

Article 175 states:

(1) Not later than 7 days in advance of Election day, the District election commission or the municipal election commission shall announce…the measures enabling voters with locomotor or sight impairment to travel and to vote on Election day.

(2) The announcement referred to in Paragraph 1 shall state a telephone and an address at which assistance can be requested on Election day.

 

Article 176 states:

Voters with permanent disabilities which prevent them from exercising their franchise in the polling site, who wish to vote by means of a mobile ballot box, shall state the desire thereof not later than 30 days in advance of Election day in writing by a statement completed in a standard form, signed manually and submitted by means of a letter, a facsimile message or electronic form to the authorities referred to in Article 40 (1) herein exercising jurisdiction over the permanent address or the present address, where a request under Article 53 (1) herein has been submitted. Any such statement shall state the names of the voter, the Standard Public Registry Personal Number (Personal Number) thereof, the permanent address (residence address) or the present address, where a request under Article 53 (1) herein has been submitted, and a copy of a document issued by the Territorial Medical Expert Board (National Medical Expert Board). (2) The names of the voter who has submitted a request under Paragraph (1) shall be removed from the voter list and shall be entered by the authority referred to in Article 40 (1) herein on a list for voting by means of a mobile ballot box…

 

Article 190, paragraph 2 states:

Polling booths shall be placed in the polling site in a manner such as to ensure the secrecy of the ballot. The booths must accommodate the voting by voters with locomotor or sight impairment.

 

Article 203 states:

(1) A voter with locomotor or sight impairment shall establish the identity… by producing an identity document.

(2) A voter with locomotor or sight impairment may alternatively vote in a suitable Polling station of his or her choice.

(3) A voter with locomotor or sight impairment shall be entered on the supplementary voter list in the Polling station after the said voter presents a declaration completed in a standard form, to the effect that the said voter has not voted and will not vote elsewhere…

 

Article 204 states:

(1) Where the voter is with a locomotor or sight impairment which prevents him or her from performing on his or her own the requisite steps upon voting, the chairperson of the commission, on the grounds of a document issued by the Territorial Medical Expert Board (National Medical Expert Board) attesting the impairment, may allow the voting to be done with the assistance of an attendant named by the voter… A copy of the document issued by the Territorial Medical Expert Board (National Medical Expert Board) shall be attached to the supplementary voter list and shall constitute an integral part thereof.

(2) Where the voter is with a locomotor or sight impairment which prevents him or her from performing on his or her own the requisite steps upon voting but does not hold a document issued by the Territorial Medical Expert Board (National Medical Expert Board), the said voter may be admitted to voting with the assistance of an attendant as an exception by decision of the commission…

(5) Illiteracy shall be no grounds for voting with the assistance of an attendant.

(6) One person may not act as an attendant to more than two voters.

(7) A member of the commission, a representative of a party, a coalition of parties or a nomination committee, an election agent or an observer may not act as an attendant.

 

Article 205 states:

…(4) The members of the mobile Precinct election commission shall place the mobile ballot box in an accessible and conspicuous place at the home of the voter. The particulars of the identity document produced by the voter shall be checked against those on the voter list, and the Standard Public Registry Personal Number (Personal Number) and the type and number of the identity document shall be entered on the voter list. The identity document, shall be left with the members of the commission until the voter signs the voter list.

(5) Upon voting by means of a mobile ballot box, other persons, including the members of the Precinct election commission who service the mobile ballot box, may not be present in the room with the voter is unable to perform on his or her own the requisite steps and has to vote with the assistance of an attendant. The names and the Standard Public Registry Personal Number (Personal Number) of the attendant, as well as the reason for voting with the assistance of an attendant, shall be entered in the column designated “Notes” of the voter list opposite the name of the voter by the member of the commission. The particulars of the attendant shall furthermore be entered on the voter list for additional entry of attendants, whereupon the attendant shall sign. The said voter list shall be signed by the members of the mobile Precinct election commission who service the mobile ballot box. The requirements of Article 204 (4), (5), (6) and (7) herein shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to voting by means of a mobile ballot box...

 

Excerpts from the Election Code (2013)