Record-Low Turnout in Bulgaria's Presidential Election First Round
Only 22.98% of registered voters cast ballots in Sunday's first round, the lowest ever for a presidential election in Bulgaria, according to the Central Election Commission.
Illustration: AI-generated image
Bulgaria's first round of the presidential election on Sunday saw the lowest voter turnout ever recorded for the initial stage of the vote, according to final data released by the Central Election Commission (CEC). Just 1,525,034 people cast their ballots, out of 6,637,238 registered voters, resulting in a turnout of 22.98%.
The figures confirm a sharp decline in participation compared with previous elections. The CEC data also showed regional disparities, with the capital Sofia recording the highest number of votes and the southern city of Kardzhali the lowest. No specific regional figures were immediately available, but the overall trend indicates a widespread lack of engagement across the country.
The final count marks the completion of the first round of voting, which took place on 25 October. The CEC has not yet announced whether a second round will be necessary, as that depends on whether any candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round. The official results for the presidential candidates are expected to be published separately.
This is the first time voter turnout for a presidential first round has fallen below 23%, according to CEC records. The low figure is likely to prompt discussion among political analysts and observers about the reasons behind the disengagement, though no official explanation has been given.
