Home > 1.3.2.2 Voting procedures > BULGARIA - Election Code
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
ANNEX № 1 TO ART. 248
 

METHODOLOGY FOR THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF SEATS DURING ELECTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT


I. General Provisions


1.1. The methodology shall define the calculation procedures to assign seats for members ofparliament in electoral districts for elections for members of parliament to the National Assembly (NA)and the Grand National Assembly (GNA).
1.2. The methodology shall define the computational procedures used to assign 240 seats in parliament, respectively 400 seat for Grand National Assembly between independent candidates and parties and coalitions in multi-mandate electoral regions (MERs).
1.3. The final assignment of seats for members of parliament shall be carried out by the Central Election Commission (CEC).


II. Determining the number of seats in the multi-mandate electoral regions


2.1. The number of seats in the multi-mandate electoral regions (MER) shall be determined based on a single standard of representation for the whole country according to the population in each MER as per data provided by the National Statistics Institute based on the results of the last census.
2.2. The number of seats in MER cannot be less than 4, respectively 6 for a GNA.
2.3. To determine the number of seats in the MER the method Hare- Niemeyer shall be used.
2.4. The population number of the country, according to data provided by the National Statistics Institute based on the results of the last census, shall be  divided by 240, respectively by 400 for the GNA, and the resulting quotient shall define the single standard of representation for the country.
2.5. The population number of each MER shall be divided by the single standard of representation for the country.
2.6. Each MER shall initially receive as many seats as is all of the quotient under item. 2.5.
2.7. The remaining seats till 240, respectively 400 for the GNA, shall be distributed to the MER with the largest remainders (the fractional part of the quotient under item 2.5).
2.8. The MER with the largest remainder shall first get extra seats, the MER with the next largest remainder shall be the second to get extra seats, and so forth until the mandates are all gone.
2.9. When the procedure under item 2.8 cannot continue due to equal remainders, whose number is greater than the number of remaining unassigned seats, these seats shall be assigned by lot bythe CEC. The date and time of the lot shall be determined by the CEC. When casting the lot, representatives of political parties, coalitions and initiative committees, observers and representatives of mass media may attend.
2.10. The preliminary number of seats for each MER shall be the sum of the initial seats received under item 2.6 plus up to one extra seats under item 2.8 and 2.9. If in all the MERs, the preliminary number of seats is not less than 4, respectively 6 for the GNA, it shall be proceeded to item 2.15.
2.11. If in any MER the preliminary number of seats is less than 4, respectively 6 for the GNA,in this MER extra seats shall be assigned, so that this area gets 4, respectively 6 seats. This MER shall not participate in the further distribution of seats.
2.12. The number 240, respectively 400 for the GNA, shall diminish with the number of MERs under item 2.11, multiplied by 4, respectively by 6 for the GNA.
2.13. The population number under item 2.4. shall decrease with the sum of the population in MER under item 2.11.
2.14. The number of seats under item 2.12 shall be assigned similarly between the MERs, except with those under item 2.11 according to the procedures of item 2.2. till item 2.15, whereas in item
2.4 the population number shall be replaced with the number of item 2.13, and in items 2.4 and 2.7 the number 240, respectively 400 for the GNA, shall be replaced by the number of item 2.12.
2.15. The final number of seats for each MER shall be the result obtained by the calculation rocedure in accordance with item 2.6 - item 2.14.


III. Determining the mandates of independent candidates in the multi-mandate electoral regions


3.1. If there are initiative committees registered for the nomination of independent candidates in the MERs, the constituency election commissions shall determine the district electoral quota. District electoral quota shall be equal to the quotient from the dividing of the total number of valid votes cast in the MER by the number of seats designated for this area under item 2.15.
3.2. If there is an independent candidate registered in the respective MER who has received valid votes not less than the district electoral quota under item 3.1., the candidate shall be deemedelected and shall get the seats in the respective MER.
3.3. The resulting seats under item 3.2 shall be subtracted from the determined number of seats for the respective MER under item 2.1.5 and shall not participate in the subsequent allocation of seats as per the proportional system in the MERs.


IV. Determining the seats under the proportional system in multi-mandate electoral regions


4.1. The number of proportional mandates subject to allocation in the 31 MER shall be equal to the difference between all 240 seats, respectively 400 for the GNA, and the number of seats received by independent candidates under item 3.2.
4.2. The number of proportional mandates to each MER shall be equal to the number of mandates under item 2.15 reduced with the number of mandates received by independent candidates under item 3.2.
4.3. The Central Election Commission (CEC) shall perform the calculations on the distribution of all proportional mandates under this section in candidate lists of parties and coalitions in MERs.
4.4. Assighment of seats for each party and coalition at national level - First Step:


4.4.1. calculated shall be the sum of the valid votes cast in the country and abroad, except for those under Art. 279, para. 1, item 6;
4.4.2. calculated shall be 4 percent of the sum under item 4.4.1.
4.4.3. in assigning the proportional seats under item 4.2, shall only participate parties and coalitions which have received valid votes not less than the figure in item 4.4.2;
4.4.4. in the further assigning of seats shall only be taken into consideration the votes of parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3;
4.4.5. seats under item 4.2. for the country shall be assigned among parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 according to the received valid votes as per the Hare- Niemeyer method;
4.4.6. the sum of the valid votes cast for all parties and coalitions under item 4.4.4 shall be divided by the number of seats under item 4.2. (Hare quota);
4.4.7. the valid votes received for each party and coalition under item 4.4.3 shall be divided by the resulting number under item 4.4.6;
4.4.8. each party and coalition under item 4.4.3 shall initially receive as many seats as is the total part of the received quotient under item 4.4.7;
4.4.9. the remaining seats till those specified in item 4.2. shall be distributed among the parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 in order of decreasing the fraction part (remainders) of the quotient received under item 4.4.7;
4.4.10. a party or coalition with the largest remainder shall first get extra seat, the party or coalition with the next largest remainder shall be the second to get extra seat, etc. until there are no seats.
4.4.11. if, during the procedure under item 4.4.10, it comes to two or more equal remainders and the number of unassigned seats is less than the number of seats itself, the assigning of the remaining seats shall be carried out by a lot among the parties or coalitions with equal remainders;the date and time of the lot shall be determined by the CEC; when casting the lot, representatives of political parties, coalitions and initiative committees, observers and representatives of mass media may attend.
4.4.12. the final number of proportional seats at national level for each party and coalition shall be equal to the number of seats received under item 4.4.8 plus no more than one extra seat under item
4.4.10 and item 4.4.11.


4.5. Assigning seats in the multi-mandate electoral regions (MERs) between winning mandates parties or coalitions - Second Step:


4.5.1. The Central Election Commission shall perform the calculations on assigning of seats under item 4.2 in all 31 MERs among the parties and coalitions which have received seats under item 4.4.12;
4.5.2. votes cast abroad for parties and coalitions shall not be involved in the assigning of seats in MERs;
4.5.3. for each MER shall be calculated the sum of the valid votes cast from all sections separately for each party and coalition under item 4.4.3;
4.5.4. for each MER shall be calculated the sum of the valid votes cast for the parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3;
4.5.5. seats under item 4.2 for each MER separately shall be assigned according to the valid votes received from parties and coalitions in the region under the Hare-Niemeyer method:
4.5.6. the sum under item 4.5.4 for each MER shall be divided by the number of seats received under item 4.2. (Hare quota);
4.5.7. valid votes received for the party or coalition under item 4.4.3 in each MER shall be divided by the resulting number under item 4.5.6;
4.5.8. initially, the party or coalition in each MER shall get as many seats as is the whole part of the received quotient under item 4.5.7;
4.5.9. the remaining seats till the number of seats under item 4.2 for each MER shall be assigned in order of decreasing the fraction (remainders) from the quotient received under item 4.5.7;
4.5.10. the first extra seat in each MER shall be assigned to a party or coalition under item 4.4.3, which has the largest remainder under item 4.5.7, the second extra seat shall be assigned to a party or coalition under item 4.4.3 with the following largest remainder and so on, until all seats for each MER are through;
4.5.11. if, during the procedure under 4.5.10, it comes to two or more equal remainders and the number of unassigned seats is less than their number, assigning the remaining seats shall be carried out among the parties and coalitions of parties under item 4.4.3 with the equal remainders by using the lot already cast by CEC to determine the numbers of parties and coalitions, and seats shall be given in order of the smallest number;
4.5.12. determined shall be the preliminary number of seats (basic) for parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 in each MER which shall be equal to the number of the seats initially allocated in MERs under item 4.5.8;
4.5.13. identified shall be the remainders (fraction part) under item 4.5.7 for each party and coalition under item 4.4.3 for each MER by marking the remainders of parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 of those having received extra seats under item 4.5.10 and 4.5.11 in each MER;
4.5.14. determined shall be an advanced assigning of seats for each MER to parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 as a sum of item 4.5.8, 4.5.10 and 4.5.11.


4.6. Redistribution of the number of seats received in advance by the parties and coalitions in multi-mandate electoral regions and final assigning of seats for MPs in multi-mandate electoral regions - Third Step:


4.6.1. separately shall be summed the previously received seats under item 4.5.14 for each partyor coalition under item 4.4.3;
4.6.2. if all parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 get as many seats as allocated to them in accordance with item 4.4.12, item 4.6.9 shall follow;
4.6.3. if a party or coalition under item. 4.4.3 has received more seats than allocated under item
4.4.12, but has no extra seats received and respectively no marked remainders, marked shall be all remainders for this party or coalition in all MERs where the party has received seats, except for those MER excluded from participating in the redistribution under item 4.6.8;
4.6.4. if a party or coalition under item 4.4.3 has received less seats than allocated under item 4.4.12, but all its non-zero remainders have been marked in all MERs, they shall be un-marked in all MERs, escept those which are excluded from participating in the redistribution of item 4.6.8;
4.6.5. determined shall be the smallest remainder under item 4.5.13 for parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3, which have obtained more than their assigned seats under item 4.4.12 only in those MERs where there are marked remainders resulting from additional seats as per Hare-Niemeyer or after
the redistribution of seats according to procedures under item 4.6.1 to 4.6.8, and are not excluded from participating in the redistribution under item 4.6.8;
4.6.6. if the determined remainders under item 4.6.5 are two or more, selected shall be the remainder in MER of a party or coalition with the lowest number at the lot casting for the numbering of parties and coalitions;
4.6.7. if in the determined MER under item 4.6.5 or item 4.6.6 there are no remainders tied to a seat, the MER shall no longer participate in the redistribution, and item 4.6.5 shall follow;
4.6.8. in the MER, where the smallest remainder has been determined under item 4.6.5 or item 4.6.6 is performed redistribution of additional seats under item 4.5.10 and item 4.5.11, where the resulting seat is revoked by the owning party or coalition in this MER, the remainder shall be reset and shall not be used in subsequent calculations, the total number of seats under item 4.5.14 for this party or coalition shall be reduced by one and a seat shall be given to the party or coalition in the same MER which has the next largest remainder untied to a seat in this MER; this remainder shall be marked, whereas the total number of seats nationwide for the party or coalition under item 4.5.14 shall be increased by one; item 4.6.2 shall follow;
4.6.9. the final assignment of proportional seats of parties and coalitions under item 4.4.3 in the multi-mandate electoral regions shall be the final result of the calculation procedures under item 4.5.12 and item 4.6.1 to item 4.6.8.


V. Personalizing seats by candidate lists


5.1. When the number of seats for a party or coalition is larger than the number of candidates in the candidate list, there shall be as many seats as is the number of candidates in the list.
5.2. The elected candidates from each candidates list of a party or coalition with X won seats shall be determined according to the number of valid preferences under Art. 278, para. 4 and 5 and of the ranking of candidates in the list.
5.3. Preferences for a given candidate from a candidate list shall be valid, if the number of votes he has received is not less than 7 percent of the votes cast for the candidate list.
5.4. When there are no candidates under item 5.3., the ranking in the candidate list shall remain the same.
5.5. When there are candidates under item 5.3., they shall be ranked according to the number of received preferences starting with the candidate with the highest number of valid preferences. These candidates shall be removed from the candidate list of the respective party or coalition and shall form the List A. With the same number of preferences the order shall be determined by a lot. The remaining candidates on the candidate list shall retain their original alignment in the list and shall form the List B.
5.6. Selected shall be the first X candidates from the lists under item 5.4. or item 5.5.
5.7. The lists under item 5.4 or item 5.5 shall be kept for replacement in case of suspention or termination of the mandate of an elected candidate.


VI. Outstanding issues


6.1. For outstanding issues, the Central Election Commission shall adopt a decision.