Partial Local Elections Across 14 Bulgarian Municipalities Draw Low Turnout
Voters across 14 Bulgarian towns and villages headed to the polls for partial local elections, with turnout varying sharply from a low of 10.54% in Polski Trambesh to highs exceeding 50% in smaller rural settlements.
Polski Trambesh Mayor Election
In the municipality of Polski Trambesh, Rosen Rusanov ran as the sole candidate, segabg.com reported. Rusanov previously served as deputy to former mayor Georgi Chakarov, who vacated the post after becoming a deputy from “Progressive Bulgaria”. segabg.com noted that Rusanov appeared on the ballot as an independent, but Chakarov entered his initiative committee, which makes the support of “Progressive Bulgaria” official.
Malorad Conducts Machine Voting Following Previous Mayor Drug Conviction
Residents of the Vratsa region village of Malorad elected a new mayor among five competing candidates in a contest utilizing machine voting, bntnews.bg and nova.bg reported. The extraordinary vote occurred after the Municipal Election Commission in Borovan terminated the powers of former mayor Ivo Иванов following a finalized sentence for driving under the influence of narcotics, segabg.com detailed. Voting began at 7:05 a.m. across five total sections, which included two mobile boxes for voters with health difficulties and two strictly machine-run stations without paper ballots. While election officials noted smooth operation of the voting equipment, minor queues formed as some electors unfamiliar with the touchscreens required assistance.
Turnout Surges in Rural Mayoral Contests Across Bulgaria
Several other rural mayoral races saw significantly higher voter participation than Polski Trambesh, according to data compiled by segabg.com. In the Sliven village of Trapoklovo, turnout reached 48.09% with 151 voters casting ballots out of 314 eligible residents, following a contest prompted by the death of the previous mayor as reported by bTV. bntnews.bg and segabg.com also recorded a turnout rate of 51.13% by 16:00 h in Maslarevo, 65% in Sadiysko Pole within Nova Zagora, and more than half of the voters in Malko Varshes within Sevlievo. In Tsareva Livada, the largest village in Dryanovo municipality, the race between two women drew nearly 43% of electors by 16:00 h.
frequently asked questions about the partial local elections
Why did Malorad hold partial elections?
Malorad held extraordinary local elections after the Borovan Municipal Election Commission terminated the powers of former mayor Ivo Ivanov following a finalized sentence for driving under the influence of narcotics, segabg.com reported.
How many locations held voting on election day?
Voters cast ballots across 14 different settlements nationwide, including Polski Trambesh, Malo Konare, Malki Varshets, Obitel, Sadiysko Pole, Rudnik, Maslarevo, Tsareva Livada, Yavorovo, Tokachka, Malorad, Dragomazh, Iskrets, and Trapoklovo, according to segabg.com.
What caused the vacancy in Polski Trambesh?
The mayoral seat in Polski Trambesh became vacant after the long-serving mayor Georgi Chakarov became a deputy from “Progressive Bulgaria”, segabg.com reported.
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