Bulgaria's Parliament Pushes Major Reforms to Election Code

Members of the Bulgarian parliament, led by the Progressive Bulgaria party, have submitted a package of amendments to the country's Election Code. The core proposals include restoring the 2021 model of machine voting – paper ballots for sections with fewer than 300 voters and fully electronic voting for larger sections – and introducing a double‑check system where control slips from the machines are counted alongside the electronic results.

The reforms also call for the elimination of the "Foreign" electoral district and the removal of the restriction that limits overseas voting to 20 sections outside the EU, except in consulates and embassies. Additional measures focus on training election staff, expanding the role of the Central Electoral Commission’s training unit, and strengthening oversight by the Ministry of Interior.

The proposals aim to be finalized before the end of July, ahead of the upcoming presidential election, which officials expect to schedule for a first round no later than mid‑November. While Progressive Bulgaria and some other parties back the changes, the GERB‑SDS coalition has voiced reservations, particularly regarding the impact on voters in sections with more than 300 voters. The debate reflects broader concerns about election transparency and the balance between paper and electronic voting.