Bulgaria: First binding e-vote is 100% accurate

Nearly 100,000 voting machines deployed since 2014 help improve election integrity

Since 2014, the Central Election Commission of Bulgaria (CEC) has enhanced election integrity by implementing Smartmatic electronic voting machines in 22 local, parliamentary, presidential, and European Parliament elections.

The modernization of voting in Bulgaria began in 2014 with a pilot project involving 130 voting machines, which expanded to a nationwide deployment of nearly 11,000 voting machines by 2021. That same year (2021), the CEC introduced electronic voting for overseas voters by installing 400 machines at embassies in 21 countries.

Using Smartmatic electronic voting machines, the CEC has significantly reduced the number of invalid votes, a persistent problem in Bulgaria’s previous paper-based elections. In the 2019 local elections, before the nationwide use of voting machines, 15.1% of total ballots cast were invalidated, disenfranchising nearly half a million voters.

During the July parliamentary elections of 2021 in which all polling stations with 300 voters or more used voting machines, invalid votes reached only 0.34% of nearly 2.8 million votes. According to a 2021 election observation mission report from the OSCE, “The use of electronic voting machines as the sole voting method in most polling stations reduced the number of invalid ballots and led to efficient counting and tabulation of votes.” The technology has also improved accuracy for preferential voting, expedited vote counting, and hastened the publication of results.

Technology

Hardware – Premium Voting Machine

Our bSmart500, formerly known as the Premium Voting Machine, adheres to Smartmatic’s best practices for voting machines and incorporates multi-layered security features, including tamper-proof data collection, end-to-end encryption, and fully auditable logs. These measures ensure the highest levels of election security and integrity. The end-to-end encryption technology effectively prevents any form of intrusion or hacking.

The machines also generate verifiable paper trails, ensuring the accuracy of digital ballots. Equipped with 17-inch touchscreens, they are designed to be accessible for voters with disabilities. Additional features include smartcard readers and precision-cut printers.

Software – Elections Management System (EMS)

The Elections Management System (EMS) is our comprehensive solution for managing the entire election process. It is comprised of several modules that enable electoral commissions to seamlessly coordinate all administrative tasks related to elections. In Bulgaria, our EMS was instrumental in configuring voting machines, counting votes, tallying and consolidating results, as well as preparing detailed reports on the progress of the election.

Services

At Smartmatic, we understand that better technology alone is not enough to ensure a well-run election. Effective processes and services are equally essential.

Since 2014, we have provided the following services in Bulgaria:

  • Project management
  • Recruitment and training of operators
  • Setup and management of warehouses and helpdesks
  • Preparation and deployment of voting equipment and applications
  • Setup of voting centers