The preparation of voting machines ahead of the elections in Bulgaria is proceeding on schedule, with authorities reporting no disruptions or technical issues so far.

Within just four days, as of 08:00 on April 17, a total of 7,500 machines have been installed and successfully validated. This accounts for roughly 80% of all devices designated for use across the country, marking significant progress in the pre-election setup.

For the first time, officials are attempting to carry out a full-scale verification of every machine. Each device undergoes a detailed check based on procedures set by the Central Election Commission. This includes confirming that the correct software version, originating from the trusted build at the Ministry of Electronic Governance, has been properly installed.

Once the verification is complete, the machines are sealed and documented. ?The seal is recorded in a special protocol,? and it remains intact until the end of election day, when it is opened to retrieve the memory storage devices.

A total of 500 machines have been placed under quarantine, a figure described as expected and within normal operational limits.

Across the country, machine voting is planned in more than 9,300 polling stations. In addition, preparations for voting abroad have already been completed, with machines dispatched earlier this month to 130 polling sections outside Bulgaria.