Each of the polling stations across Bulgaria is to be given an unique stamp to mark the ballots cast in the Sunday's local vote, Central Election Committee announced Saturday.

Just before the official start of the voting process, members of the electoral body will make sections on the stamps' rubber sides.

Bulgarians heading to voting precincts for the local elections on October 28 will have from two to four ballots to cast depending on the residential place they live in.

The option of preferential voting in the municipal councillor elections has been denied by the authorities.

The ballots have to be put in the same envelope, which the voter will then cast in transparent boxes, according to the most recent amendments to the electoral code, passed by the parliament in summer.

The changes have come under criticism for complicating the process, as well as for technical reasons, particularly the length that some ballots will reach.

In Sofia the ballot for the municipal councillors is 94 centimetres long, and similar ballots in Bulgaria's other big cities is not far behind, due to the large number of small parties that are in the running.

The voters are allowed to make only one mistake while indicating the candidate chosen on the ballot. The mistaken paper will be immediately destroyed.

The little square, which stands before the name of the runner chosen, should be marked with a tick, a cross or a big full stop so that the ballot is considered valid.

Letters or numbers, written on the names of the candidates, are to make the ballots invalid.

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