Low voter enthusiasm in London, no rise in runoff turnout expected

A total of 82 polling stations have been opened across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, including 24 in London. Voter turnout among Bulgarians living there has also been low in today’s presidential election. The highest turnout among Bulgarians in the UK has been recorded in the final hours of the day. There have been no queues outside polling stations, even in the afternoon, when Bulgarians who work on Sundays and plan to vote are heading to the polls, BNR’s correspondent Veselin Paunov reports.

The only exceptions are polling stations set up in smaller premises. “There was a larger gathering of people at a café in London’s Wood Green neighbourhood, for example, but it would be difficult to call it a queue. Election commissions at many polling stations report that not even half of those who submitted applications in advance have turned up yet. Although the weather in London is sunny, there is a fairly strong, chilly wind. Weather conditions caused problems during the first half of the day in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, which were affected by Storm Boelo. By the afternoon, however, the winds had eased and the rain had stopped, which may help increase turnout.”

There are 27 voting machines across the country, and no problems with their use have been reported. Voting is due to close at 20:00 GMT (22:00 Bulgarian time).

By the afternoon of election day, around 200 people had cast their ballots at the polling station in Reading, a town on the outskirts of London, its chair, Viktoria Vlahovska, reported.

“People voting at our polling station want change. They want Bulgaria to have a stable leader who can serve as commander-in-chief and someone we can be proud to have representing us on the world stage.”

At the opposite end of the turnout scale is the polling station chaired by Alexander Bogdanov. Its location, just metres from one of the main railway stations in East London, in an area with a large Bulgarian community, appears not to have encouraged them to exercise their right to vote today.

“Typically, between 600 and 800 people vote at this polling station, but by midday today, only 45 people had cast their ballots. Voters are reluctant to share their expectations, and the mood is subdued. It seems they have simply come to cast their votes.”

Our interviewee is sceptical that the surprisingly low voter turnout will change next Sunday, when the runoff to elect Bulgaria’s seventh president is scheduled to take place.

“There are no such indications at the moment. The school autumn half-term break begins in the UK next week, and most people will be travelling abroad.”

As for his expectations of Bulgaria’s next president and vice president, Alexander is unequivocal:

“They should not divide people and try to be more positive in their decisions, comments, behaviour and so on. We need to change our mindset, seek out and appreciate the good things in life, and set an example for future generations.”

Read also:

• Niki Collier’s photo documentary of Election Day in Dublin

• Bulgarians in Geneva: Lack of open debate is missed chance in election campaign

• Vladimir Perev from Skopje: A campaign is needed for votersin North Macedonia

• Bulgarians in Kraków vote with great enthusiasm

• Returnee from Czechia: Apathy on election day is surprising

  Translated by Kostadin Atanasov