The applications for participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections submitted by Bulgarians in the United States to Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission are 5,030. A total of 35 polling stations will be opened in the USA, which is the maximum number that can be established in countries outside the EU, according to the Bulgarian election legislation.

Chicago is the place with the largest presence of Bulgarians in America. There will be one polling station there at the Consulate General, at 737 N, Michigan ave., Suit 2105, Chicago, Il 60611.

But in addition to the city itself, there will be four more polling stations in the suburbs, at the following addresses:

-1431 Lee St., Des Plaines, IL

-16. 832 Lee St., Des Plaines, IL

- 415 W. Golf Rd. # 7, Arlington Heights, IL

- Bulgarica Center, 1120 Elmhurst Rd., Countryside Ct., Mount Prospect, IL

"We have no problem with the polling stations," said BNR correspondent in Chicago Elena Tsaneva. She herself lives in the city, but prefers to go to the suburbs to exercise her right to vote because it is more convenient to park.

Elena Tsaneva sought an answer to the question of what would motivate Bulgarians in Chicago to vote. What will be the driving force and hope of two Bulgarian Bulgarian women, who have been living in the Windy City for years, to vote in the parliamentary elections on April 4:

"I will vote. I hope that many Bulgarians will go out to vote, and that people with education, opportunities and competences will enter the next Bulgarian parliament”, says Yana Bachvarova, who has lived in America for 25 years. “Every year I return to Bulgaria, I am very interested in what is happening in my homeland. It hurts me a lot when I see corruption and mafia on every level. I hope that people who are abroad now will return in the future and will be able to help Bulgaria."

Yana Bachvarova connects her possible return one day to her homeland with the need for change - "I need to see that there really is ground for capable people and I would certainly return. Because my relatives are there, I grew up there and I would definitely come back if I see that Bulgaria is going in the right direction and that things are changing."

Simona Shkyopu is also one of the people who is not indifferent to the fate of her native country. She really wants to see the change that many Bulgarians around the world dream of, and on the election day she wants more people in both Bulgaria and Chicago to vote:

"I expect a lot more people to get involved this year than ever before. Although I have memories from 2 elections ago, when we had to wait long in front of the ballot box”, Simona says, sharing her hopes related to the election day. “I have been living abroad for almost 20 years. There was not a case in which I did not vote. Although at the beginning I had some doubts, because I still live here and I participate in deciding the fate of my relatives who are in Bulgaria."

Simona Shkyopu firmly believes that Bulgarians abroad should have their representatives in the Bulgarian Parliament:

"We are very connected to our homeland and we do a lot of things for it. We are constantly returning to Bulgaria and we want this bond between us and our homeland never to be severed. Besides, I think that the people who left Bulgaria, but kept their connection with their homeland have an absolute need for a person or people to defend their interests. That's why I really think that there should be representatives of Bulgarians living abroad, " Simona says.

For Radio Bulgaria from Chigaco - Elena Tsaneva

English version: Rositsa Petkova