Bulgaria election voting has begun, with 27 candidates contesting the presidency as 6.59 million eligible voters prepare to choose their next leader. Opinion polls suggest a runoff is likely, with no candidate expected to secure an outright victory in the first round.
Bulgarians on Sunday, October 25, began voting to elect a new president, with 27 candidates contesting the country’s highest office.
According to the Central Election Commission, approximately 6.59 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots, including incumbent President Iliana Iotova.
Polling stations across Bulgaria opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 8:00 p.m.
The first exit polls are expected to be released shortly after voting ends, while the official results must be announced no later than Tuesday evening.
The Bulgarian president is elected for a five-year term. To secure victory in the first round, a candidate must obtain more than half of all valid votes, provided voter turnout exceeds 50 percent.
However, pre-election opinion polls suggest that a runoff election is likely, as turnout is expected to remain at or below 50 percent and no candidate is projected to win more than half of the valid votes in the first round. The outcome of the vote will determine Bulgaria’s next president and whether the election proceeds to a second round.
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