Experts propose, power is hesitant: there is still no solution to remove « dead souls »
Active registration, integration of all lists maintained by the Bulgarian state, ID card scanning system – such proposals were heard during the second working group meeting, in which experts, politicians and representatives of the institutions discuss proposals for changes to the Electoral Code. During the three -hour meeting, any ideas were heard to remove the so -called « dead souls » from the electoral lists, which is a commitment of the government of Zhelyazkov, which is part of the management agreement, but it was not known what the governing would do.
The idea of »there is such a people » (ITN) for the processing of the lists based on the National Statistical Institute from the last census in 2021. He did not like the experts who pointed to a series of problems with this proposal – that Bulgarians abroad were not covered, to the fact that the data were already outdated. There were also accusations that this measure aimed at limiting the right to vote of Bulgarians abroad. However, representatives of the formation of TV presenter Slavi Trifonov made it clear that they would hardly give up their texts.
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BSP, GERB, MRF -DPS and « MRF – New Beginning » did not take into account the topic and so it was not known whether and what a majority could collect the measure initiated by ITN.
The electoral lists
Three parliamentary groups have made suggestions for optimizing electoral lists and the removal of the so -called. Dead souls. According to the BSP, only Bulgarian citizens who have voted in the last elections should fall on the lists or have applied for registration. ITN, on the other hand, suggests that the lists be prepared on the basis of data from the National Statistical Institute according to the results of the last national census. Bulgarians abroad who have not participated in it will be able to be written in the list of a declaration submitted on the spot. L
The GRO (Directorate General Civil Registration and Administrative Services) announced the idea of using the census data. However, they called not to make changes at the last moment in the Civil Registration Act. Prof. Emilia Drumeva and the election expert Stoil Stoilov called for active registration, but called for such a reform – to introduce it carefully. Stoilov, on the other hand, called for measures to limit election tourism.
The Honest Election Organization (Eyes) urged that no changes to the Electoral Code be made concerning the drafting of electoral lists, but proposed investments in software that in real time to follow the voters voters. For this purpose, personal documents are scanned before the vote (such a proposal was made by Democratic Bulgaria- BA). The idea of this measure is not to allow a voter to vote many times – for example, abroad, at a permanent and current address.
| Such a system has been using banks in the country for years. |
The lecturer at New Bulgarian University Daniel Stefanov was also skeptical about the proposals to change the way the electoral lists were formed. He called on a clear answer to the question of what the inaccuracies in these lists were given a clear answer before initiating such a move.
This is logical to do before the electoral lists turn down with their heads.
Vanya Nusheva called for the integration of all registers maintained in Bulgaria. According to her, this is the only way in which the so -called. « Dead Souls » can be cleared of lists. She gave an example that if the Ministry of Interior’s data was used for the departed country, it would be determined exactly how many voters are in the EU and third countries. A way to confirm how many of them reside abroad is constantly there is through the registers of the Health Fund for people who do not pay their health contributions on the grounds that they do not reside in the country.
The Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Tsvetozar Tomov proposed that under certain conditions in the country, to vote not only at a permanent and current address. He gave an example of the July 2021 elections, when Bulgarian citizens who are at sea in Greece could vote, but those at sea in Bulgaria do not.
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Sectional committees
Both experts and politicians united the need for better training members of the section committees. Traditionally, various proposals have been heard, which are unlikely to collect the necessary political support such as:
- Shortening of election day from 13 to 8 hours;
- A condition for at least one of the members of the Section Committees is a representative of the state administration;
- Increasing the number of voters who vote in one section;
- Introduction of year-round training of the members of the section committees and the introduction of a compulsory test, with only those who support it successfully have the right to be chairmen, deputy chairmen and PEC secretaries;
- Constant video surveillance on election day;
- Creating a register of a PEC members committing violations. Those who fall into this « black list » not have the right to be part of the election administration;
- Shortening of the PEC members to three people;
- Regulating the commitment of parties to the education of their representatives in the section committees;
- Establishment of a register of trained members of sectional committees;
- Restricting the capabilities of political formations to change their representatives at the PEC at the last moment, and when it is acceptable, the new staff should be selected from a list of trained persons.
