Bulgaria | Study Visit for Citizen Election Observers

Bulgaria’s first round of the presidential and vice-presidential elections took place on 25th October 2026. Alpha Research’s exit poll had Iliana Iotova at 35.3% and Andrey Gyurov at 32.4%. The preliminary Central Election Commission results (99.95% of polling station protocols processed on 26th October) showed Iotova at 34.76% and Gyurov at 31.95%. A second round is due to take place on 1st November.

Turnout was around 22% (2021: 40.47%). Before the vote, Bulgarian polling experts identified voter fatigue, low expectations of political change, and the perception of a clear frontrunner as potential factors explaining the low participation. These remain contextualizations of what might have caused the turnout.

On this occasion, EPDE conducted a study visit for 13 participants from 11 countries (including staff from the EPDE Secretariat). The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria accredited all participants as international election observers. The visit was purely a study visit, aimed at facilitating professional exchange and learning about electoral institutions and practice in Bulgaria, as well as voting procedures on election day. It was not an election observation mission and does not constitute any assessment of the conduct of the elections.

The program included briefings with leading Bulgarian experts on media, politics, and elections. The Chairperson, the Secretary, and various members of the Central Election Commission received participants at the CEC HQ, and our observers also met with representatives of the National Police General Directorate of the Ministry of Interior. The discussions provided an opportunity to learn about election administration, machine voting, and the role of various public institutions in the election process.

EPDE’s Bulgarian member, the Institute for Public Environment Development (IPED), co-hosted the study trip. EPDE would like to thank IPED for its cooperation and support, and the experts and institutions who helped put the agenda together.