Another intrigue has emerged over the week due to the voting machine use during the forthcoming poll on March 26. In early February the Supreme Court of Administration overthrew the Central Election Committee’s decision in favor of voting machine use in 500 polling stations only. The judges leant on the Election Code, ruling that a voter can opt for paper ballot or machine voting one. Therefore machines are necessary for each of the 2,500 polling stations.

The SCA decision caused concern at CEC, as there is no time. An urgent public procurement was announced, but with no interest shown so far – not a single company would take such huge chance. On Wednesday governmental spokesperson Irina Belcheva stated that a research conducted had shown that it was quite unlikely the number of machines necessary to be provided by March 26. In his turn caretaker PM Ognyan Gerdzhikov said that if no applicants for the public procurement appeared, there would be attempts for the election’s suspension.

Experts claim that at least a few months are necessary technologically, as the process is gradual: an expertise, encryption, training for the poll commissions’ members etc. There is the additional issue on the machines’ installation in prisons, ships, retirement homes…? At the same time voting machine use is not a common practice across democratic Europe. Moreover, there are states which have given it up after its initial introduction. Bulgaria’s population is aging, with some 2.2 mln. retired people out of a bit over 7 mln. – and those are expected to learn machine voting now…?!

So, now we have the issue are the forthcoming polls going to be stumbled by machine vote use? If yes, Qui prodest? Sociological agencies foresee that at this point GERB, BSP, MRF, United Patriots and Volia are going to enter the next parliament, overcoming the 4% threshold. It is likely that the remains of the late Union of Democratic Forces will remain off board and it is even more likely those to demand the polls’ suspension due to the lack of voting machines across all the stations.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev