In brief
The Central Election Commission (CEC) declared the conclusion of Sunday’s presidential runoff at 9 p.m., noting a turnout of 19.33%—an increase from 15.95% in the first round. Results are expected within three days, with official publication in the State Gazette to follow within seven days. Other outlets highlighted the broader political context and reported the CEC’s statement that no president or vice‑president had been elected as of October 25.
The Central Election Commission of Bulgaria confirmed the end of the presidential runoff on Sunday, announcing at 9:00 p.m. that the voting day had concluded. According to CEC Chair Georgi Horozov, the live‑streamed meeting conveyed that 1,282,848 voters had cast ballots by 4:00 p.m., bringing total turnout to 19.33 % across the country and abroad—an increase of nearly 3.5 percentage points from the 15.95 % recorded during the first round.
The CEC spokesperson, Stoyanka Balova, said the final results of the presidential and vice‑presidential contests would be declared within three days and would be published in the State Gazette no later than seven days afterward. She echoed the earlier briefing that the electoral day was officially finished at 9 p.m. Sunday.
US News reported that the runoff marked a day of heightened regional security concerns and domestic economic anxiety. The article noted that Bulgarian voters went to the polls amid references to threats from neighbouring regions and questions about the country’s economic trajectory.
“Bulgarians voted on Sunday in a presidential runoff marked by regional security threats and economic worries at home.”
The Associated Press contributed the quote and did not specify a speaker.
In contrast, a Bulgarian fact‑checking website, the Fakti.bg platform, reported that the Central Election Commission announced that no president and vice‑president of the republic were elected in the elections held on October 25, 2026. The announcement appeared on a page that is now unavailable, with the site noting that the page was not found. The content, if confirmed, would suggest that the runoff did not result in any choice for the top offices, a claim that would be significant given the CEC’s forthcoming release of results.
Another article on Fakti.bg stated that the Central Election Commission expects to announce the runoff results by Wednesday, November 4 at the latest. It did not provide additional details on the time of day or the pronouncement context.
Given the differing perspectives, the CEC’s own statements confirm the timing of the campaign’s conclusion and the commitment to release results within a specified window. US News highlights the political climate in which the vote was held, while Fakti.bg raises questions about the selection outcome and the CEC’s future announcements. All reports converge on the fact that the next steps will involve the official certification of results and publication in the State Gazette, after which a new presidential term will commence under the country’s constitutional framework.
