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foreigners voting rights in the world
Foreigners voting rights in Bulgaria
http://www.government.bg/English/Priorities/Justice/2005-05-05/2551.html
Since 2007 EU Citizens Entitled to Take Part in Bulgarian Local Elections
The cabinet proposes to the National Assembly amendments to the Local Elections Law
5 May 2005
Since 2007 foreigners who are citizens of EU member states will be entitled to vote for municipal councilors and mayors in Bulgaria. The cabinet proposes to the National Assembly a bill on the amendments to the Local Elections Law.
In order to take part in the elections, EU citizens will have to be permanent residents of the municipality in question, they mustn't be exempt from the right to vote in another EU member state, including Bulgaria, not serving a sentence. They must express their will to vote in writing. The application has to be filed not later than 40 days before the election day.
Under the same conditions, the foreigners will be elected for councilors. Those of them will are eligible in another EU member state of origin or other EU member states.
Under the bill, only Bulgarian citizens are eligible for mayors in the country. This issue is solved in a similar way in all new member states and in most of the old EU members.
The election lists will includes 2 sections: A and B. Section A includes the citizen's names, personal number, permanent address or current address, the type of his identity document. Section B includes the names of EU citizens.
The lists of candidates for the local elections will be sent to the competent bodies of the EU member states through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
EU citizens must file a formal declaration of eligibility as well as a conviction status certificate. The documents have to be filed at the District election commissions with the registration for the local elections not later than 40 days before the election day.
The bill on the amendments to the Local Elections Law is drafted in compliance with Bulgaria's commitment to the regulations of Directive 94/80/EO and the treaty of establishing the European Communities, based on the major principles of the European Union – freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The application of these principles is in line with the introduction of EU citizenship as an addition to and not a substitution for the national citizenship.
http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0159&n=000007&g=
Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria
04 October 2005
Prom., SG. 56/13 Jul 1991, amend., SG. 85/26 Sep 2003, amend., SG. 18/25 Feb 2005
Article 26
(1) Irrespective of where they are, all citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be vested with all rights and obligations proceeding from this Constitution.
(2) Foreigners residing in the Republic of Bulgaria shall be vested with all rights and obligations proceeding from this Constitution, except those rights and obligations for which Bulgarian citizenship is required under this Constitution or another law.
Article 42
(1) Every citizen above the age of 18, with the exception of those placed under judicial interdiction or serving a prison sentence, shall be free to elect state and local authorities and vote in referendums.
(2) The organization and procedure for holding elections and referendums shall be established by law.
(3) (new, SG 18/05) The elections for the European Parliament and the participation of European Union citizens in the elections for local authorities shall be regulated by law.
http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0138&n=000117&g=
13 October 2005
The government discussed a report on the fulfillment of the commitments of the Ministry of Social Affairs to the EU
(...)
Bulgaria took the necessary measures to harmonise its laws with the EU in the right to vote. With a view to the commitments made, there was an amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria and there were bills on the election of MEPs and on local elections. The two bills are about to be passed at the National Assembly.
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foreigners voting rights in the world