A Bulgarian citizen votes during the early parliamentary elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 27, 2024. Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary elections, the seventh in three and a half years. Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among 4,854 candidates from 19 political parties and nine coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
SOFIA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary elections, the seventh in three and a half years.
Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among 4,854 candidates from 19 political parties and nine coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission.
The commission said that 12,879 polling stations opened nationwide at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and are due to close at 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, 719 polling stations are available for Bulgarians living abroad to cast their ballots.
Exit polls will be announced immediately after stations close in Bulgaria, and the final results should be announced no later than Oct. 31.
The previous election was held in June, but parliament failed to form a regular cabinet, forcing another election.
The National Assembly is Bulgaria's legislative body. It also elects the government by a simple majority and has a four-year term, except in certain circumstances, such as when it cannot elect a government. ■
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev registers for voting during the early parliamentary elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 27, 2024.
Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary elections, the seventh in three and a half years.
Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among 4,854 candidates from 19 political parties and nine coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
A Bulgarian citizen votes during the early parliamentary elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 27, 2024.
Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary elections, the seventh in three and a half years.
Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among 4,854 candidates from 19 political parties and nine coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
A Bulgarian citizen votes during the early parliamentary elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 27, 2024.
Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary elections, the seventh in three and a half years.
Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among 4,854 candidates from 19 political parties and nine coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
