When the elections are on the same date in a 2 in 1 combination, there is a requirement in the electoral code for the ballots – they must be of a different color on the printed image on the back. And when the lot is drawn for the elections for members of the European Parliament, and the party receives a corresponding number, it also keeps it in the ballot for the election of people’s representatives, when it is registered to participate in both types of elections. This was explained to BNT by the chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Kamelia Neikova.
It will probably be possible to vote with one machine in both types of elections, but there is still no decision of the commission. Neikova added that the state has slightly more than 12,000 voting devices.
The CEC is still waiting for a presidential decree to schedule the elections, regardless of what combination they will be. However, inasmuch as the electoral code designates a contractor for the activities of computer processing of voting data and for the printing of ballots and the delivery of paper for machine voting, there is no designated contractor for the activities of machine voting itself. And we have to carry out a procedure that is associated with much longer technological terms. And no matter how much these terms are shortened, in order to optimize the whole process, we have to spend about 20 days in the public procurement procedure. And this within 60 days, which is the active period for holding elections, is quite a long period that delays all activities, Neikova pointed out.
Whether they will be 2 in 1 or on different dates have their advantages and disadvantages. If the elections are held on the same date, this means that logistics and transport costs and costs for remuneration of election commissions will be saved. But this means that a careful approach must be taken in the organization of the election process, not only with regard to the CEC, but all those who have relations in the process, she added.
According to her, the two elections have their specific features and one of the most important is the election rights.
In the elections for the European Parliament, there is a requirement for sitting, but for the National Assembly there is none. In the European elections, sections outside the country are opened in EU member states. And outside the EU – only where our country has a diplomatic or consular representation. In parliamentary elections, there can be sections all over the world, depending on the number of applications for voting, explained Neykova.
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