Bulgarian Parliament Approves Electoral Code Changes Ahead of October Election

The Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria approved amendments to the Electoral Code on July 30, 2026, to refine voting procedures before the presidential elections on October 25. The legislative body voted 151 in favor of changes that remove limits on polling stations in non-European Union countries and abolish the multi-member 'Abroad' constituency.

New regulations mandate machine voting at stations with at least 300 registered voters, though paper ballots remain available for smaller stations or during device failures. The National Assembly also introduced measures to increase voting accessibility for visually impaired citizens, though implementation may be delayed by one year.

Operational changes to the Central Election Commission include a shift in its decision-making process, which now requires a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority. Additionally, the parliament established new rules for polling agencies to ensure the nondisclosure of data during the 'Day of Contemplation' and on the day of the election.

Political reactions were split. Progressive Bulgaria supported the accessibility measures and signaled possible further amendments after the autumn vote. Gerbillinae supported aid for blind citizens but opposed the total replacement of paper ballots. We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria opposed the removal of the 'Abroad' constituency, while the Movement for Rights and Freedoms saw its proposal to replace machines with optical scanners rejected.