Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission announces tender to rent 12 500 voting machines
Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced a tender for the hire of 12 500 voting machines for the country’s March 26 2017 early parliamentary elections.
The CEC intends hiring, not buying, the voting machines, estimating spending 12.5 million to 15 million leva (about 6.3 million to 7.6 million euro) on the contract.
The move is a sequel to the Supreme Administrative Court upholding an application compelling the CEC to provide the option of machine voting at all polling stations in Bulgaria and abroad in the March elections.
The CEC initially had planned to provide only 500 voting machines.
CEC spokesperson Kamelia Neikova told public broadcaster Bulgarian National Radio on February 11 that the Commission had in the past few days considered both options, of renting and buying the machines, but had decided that renting was more feasible as dealing with a tender to buy could prove unrealistic.
Offers will be accepted up to February 28. Neikova said that the CEC hoped that the machines would be available in time for the March 26 vote.
The CEC has designated its chief legal adviser, Nikolai Zheliazkov, to be in charge of the public procurement of the voting machines.
(Screenshot via BNT)
/Politics
