(Amended, SG No. 39/2016, effective 26.05.2016, SG No. 57/2016, effective 22.07.2016) (1) The voting sections abroad shall be established at a diplomatic mission or consular post, except in the cases referred to in Paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In the places in the Member States of the European Union outside a diplomatic mission or consular post, voting sections shall be established provided there are not fewer than 60 voters who have submitted an application under Article 16 (1) herein.

(3) By a decision of the Central Election Commission, at the discretion of the heads of diplomatic missions and consular posts, voting sections shall be established outside a diplomatic mission or consular post in the places in the States which are not Member States of the European Union on the basis of not fewer than 60 voters who have submitted an application under Article 16 (1) herein. The heads of diplomatic missions and consular posts, on the basis of the territorial distribution of the Bulgarian community, the distant location of the voting sections and the requirement of Paragraph (5), shall transmit a reasoned proposal to the Central Election Commission not later than 25 days in advance of polling day.

(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to elections of Members of the European Parliament for the Republic of Bulgaria.

(5) (Supplemented, SG No. 85/2016, effective 28.10.2016) The total number of voting sections established in any single State which is not a Member State of the European Union may not exceed 35.