Bulgarian election misconduct allegations

Reports of misconduct have emerged involving election officials in different regions of Bulgaria. In the Burgas region, the Regional Election Commission removed the chairperson of a local commission in the village of Izgrev. The decision followed an inspection that found the individual exhibited slurred speech and inappropriate behavior, appearing to be under the influence of alcohol while transporting commission members. Additionally, alcohol was found inside the polling station, and technical malfunctions with voting machines required a shift to paper ballots in certain sections. In Plovdiv Province, the 17th Regional Election Commission removed a deputy chair in Bolyartsi following allegations of political campaigning, offensive remarks, and violations of public order. The official denied these claims, instead alleging that the commission chairman violated voting secrecy by interfering with the ballots of voters in a local Roma neighborhood. The official stated that when she confronted the chairman regarding these actions, he threatened her with removal. In Blagoevgrad, the District Election Commission issued rulings on several complaints. One report from the Ministry of Interior concerned the inclusion of a deceased individual in a voter list. An investigation found the individual was alive when preliminary lists were prepared and did not appear on the final list used by the Sectional Election Commission, leading to the dismissal of the signal. A second complaint addressed the placement of a voting machine behind a privacy screen in a section designated for paper ballots. The commission determined the complaint was unfounded, noting that the machine was placed behind a screen to prioritize the ‘protection of the secrecy of the vote’ because the machine was delivered without side barriers. Separately, MP Kalin Stoyanov has raised questions regarding the detention of the mayors of Sungurlare and Belitsa.