Home > 2.2 Polling station > BULGARIA - Joint Opinion on Amendments to the Electoral Code
 
 
 
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Paragraph 66
 

The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR note that some of the late amendments to the Electoral Code affect the voting rights of Bulgarian citizens residing abroad. These amendments were relevant for the presidential election held on 6 and 13 November 2016. More precisely, in May, July and October 2016, amendments were made to Section III of Chapter Two of the Electoral Code concerning polling stations abroad. Of particular importance is the late amendment of Article 14 (5), adopted on 28 October 2016, limiting the total number of out-of-country polling stations located outside of the EU to 35 per non-EU country. The 2016 PACE election observation report on the presidential election states that limiting the number of polling stations abroad was controversial. On 17 October 2016, the proposed amendment was challenged by the Ombudsman before the Constitutional Court, arguing that a limit on the number of polling stations abroad infringed on the right to vote.