To be run alongside the Bulgarian local
elections on October 25, the national referendum has been reduced down to a
single question from the original proposition for three questions to be
included. The proposition came forth from Bulgaria's current President Rosen
Plevneliev and the question that remains on the referendum is on the subject of
remote electronic voting.
More specifically, the referendum question is
stated as follows:
“Do you support the idea to be able to vote from a distance, electronically at
elections and referendums?”
Noteworthy on how this question is being
framed is that it is being positioned only as a plebiscite, meaning that the
result of the referendum may not necessarily result in immediate change in how
future elections are run in Bulgaria. However, if the popular vote returns as a
yes, it will be a clear indication that Bulgarians are ready to modernize and
improve the administration of elections in their country.
Strong support for remote electronic voting
in Bulgaria has already been demonstrated, as the motion is being described not
only as a presidential initiative, but as the initiative of over
half a million citizens who “put their signatures down.” These same
citizens, among many others, must also vote “yes” in October's referendum to
ensure their voices are heard loud and clear by the country's politicians and
electoral officials. Fair and equal access to exercise their right to franchise
is an absolute must for all Bulgarians if the country's democracy is to be seen
and understood as fair and equal too.
With the aid of a robust and secure
technological infrastructure, remote e-voting can be more efficient, more convenient,
and more cost-effective too. As it stands, nearly one million Bulgarians abroad
have voting rights and without such a system in place, they would be
effectively disenfranchised. President Plevneliev does not agree that millions
of Bulgarians should be left out from the political arena
simply because they have decided to work abroad.
The availability of e-voting would be in
line with how the majority of people live and work today. “We already daily use
the opportunities that technology provides us,” stated Plevneliev. “Electronic
voting is the future, it will certainly happen. The question is not if, but
when.”
Bulgaria certainly would not be the first
to entertain the adoption of e-voting or even i-voting over the Internet. The
country would be able to look to positive examples, like the i-voting
system in Estonia, for inspiration and guidance on how best to implement a
reliable, safe and secure system for electronic voting. Now is the time for
Bulgaria to automate its elections, maintaining the integrity, legitimacy and
relevance of its modern democracy.
