The election roulette has been spinning in Bulgaria for exactly two years. On ‎April 2, Bulgarians in the country and around the world will once again take ‎the time to exercise their civic right and responsibility and elect the new ‎members of the Bulgarian parliament - the legislative body in the country.‎

‎"One more day of our lives will be given to Bulgaria, let's make it a beautiful ‎one," says Zornitsa Rangelova from London in an interview for Radio ‎Bulgaria. And it's not just an appeal. Bulgarians living in the British capital are ‎preparing with... flowers for the elections. "The new events created on social ‎networks have many photos carrying a spring mood. We also have a map with ‎all the addresses of polling stations in the UK," Zornitsa, who is the ‎coordinator for the elections at the Bulgarian Embassy in London, told us. ‎

‎"Although the election is an official event, we can also find beauty in it." ‎Therefore, instead of the typical national flags to announce the event on social ‎networks, we used the beauty of flowers. It's spring time now, so we all need ‎to wake up and do something different. Most of the volunteers who will ‎work in the polling stations really put a lot of effort into learning the election ‎materials, taking time away from their families to participate in the ‎organization, and of course getting the polling stations in order. This time is ‎part of our lives and that's why we decided to make it even more beautiful. We ‎urge all people to go out on Sunday in high spirits and let us all turn this ‎into a beautiful event!”‎

For the convenience of Bulgarians who reside in the territory of Great ‎Britain and Northern Ireland, a map with all 102 addresses of the polling ‎stations there has been prepared. In the first five days of its creation, it had ‎nearly 12,000 visits. Does this speak of great interest and activity towards the ‎political process among Bulgarians in the UK?‎

‎"Yes. At first we thought that there would be no interest, but after we made the ‎map and the events on social networks, we noticed that actually people are ‎quietly looking at where their polling station will be. Because, as you know ‎abroad, not only in England, but wherever there are polling stations outside the ‎embassy, they are not located at exact addresses. Every year we start almost ‎from scratch with negotiations for premises, etc. So it is very important that ‎before going out, people look at exactly where the new polling station is. It ‎might be in the same place as the previous election, but it might be not. That's ‎why we have this map and all these events that we've built on the social ‎network”, explains Zornitsa.‎

The most reliable place to check the address of a polling station is the website ‎of the Bulgarian embassy, reminds Zornitsa Rangelova. Information on the ‎nearest place where you can vote abroad can also be found in the active groups ‎in social networks created by Bulgarians in various countries. And although ‎choosing a place for holding the election abroad is a more difficult process than ‎in the country, and the addresses of polling stations are not permanent, Zornitsa ‎Rangelova sees something positive: "We have the privilege of not thinking ‎about where we will be on election day, but simply to find the nearest address ‎of a polling station and go to vote".‎

‎"There is something very good that outside of Bulgaria you can vote in ‎absolutely any polling station, i.e. if you went to visit another city, you just go ‎with your friends to the local polling station. Those who filed an online ‎registration enter to vote, while others only need to fill out a declaration that ‎they will not vote elsewhere and then vote. As far as I know, in Bulgaria, on ‎the day of the election itself, it is impossible to vote in a different polling ‎station than the one based on address registration, unless you have previously ‎filled out a declaration to that effect."‎

The parties represented in the last National Assembly have the right to appoint ‎their representatives in the sectional commissions abroad, which, according to ‎Zornitsa, makes the work on organizing the vote more labor-intensive. ‎‎"Because the people represented by the parties have no connection with the ‎premises itself, the election process, etc., i.e. the responsibility has shifted to the ‎actual organization", she points out and adds:‎

The political parties represented in the last National Assembly have the right to ‎appoint their representatives in the section election committees abroad, which, ‎according to Zornitsa, makes the work on organizing the vote more labour-‎intensive. "Because the people represented by the parties have no connection ‎with the premises itself, the election process, etc., i.e. the responsibility for the ‎actual organization has shifted", she points out and adds:‎

‎"These appointments may sometimes not be the right people, because ‎previously we tried to make the committee balanced - one person is better ‎acquainted with the technical part, another - writes names all day. Now, ‎somehow, as a surprise, we receive the committee members and we ask the ‎parties that at least one of the people is more familiar with the technical part. Of ‎course, the Central Election Commission this year have made the ‎methodological guidelines wonderful. I thank them very much that they are ‎really explained step by step now and it is much easier.”‎

Photos are courtesy of Zornitsa Rangelova

Read more about the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 2 in Radio Bulgaria's special section HERE.