As the day progresses, the turnout is getting higher, by 5 p.m., it was 38.2%, according to exit poll data from the Gallup, the agency that is also a partner of BNR in this election.

On air of Radio Horizont, the sociologist Svetlin Tachev said:

"Compared to the turnout in 2017 at this time of the day it was 42 percent. Again, the voter turnout in this election is slightly lower, which is rather normal against the backdrop of the coronavirus situation, but for me it is a positive sign that people are willing to go out and exercise their right to vote."

"We could report the turnout data for some of the larger constituencies, but please keep in mind that the sample in this type of election is mostly representative of the whole country," Juliana Galova of Gallup told Radio Horizont.

In Sofia 23 Multi-mandate constituency (MIR) – 48%, in 24 MIR – 38%, in 25 MIR – about 36%, in Plovdiv about 34% turnout and in Varna – about 40%

Earlier, Svetlin Tachev shared his observations that older people go to polls in the morning, younger in the afternoon and late afternoon, in the capital voting usually starts from noon onwards, while in smaller settlements people go out to vote in the morning.

By 3 p.m., turnout was 30.9% and was also lower than during previous parliamentary elections.

“Compared to 2017 it's a bit lower by this time of the day, it was about 34 per cent at that time, but in the face of a pandemic for me it's a success. Towards the end of election day, there is always an increase in turnout", said Tachev.

"We are observing a significant turnout among Bulgarians abroad, which is commendable, as over the years there is always talk that they should participate, and today I see that this is happening.

That makes me feel happy. By 8 p.m., I expect more young people to vote", said in What's More talk show Tachev:

Throughout the day, sociologists monitor the dynamics of the vote and the distribution of seats in the new parliament.

About 22% was the voter turnout as of 1 p.m., according to data from the Gallup polling agency. By comparison – during the elections in 2017 the activity by that hour was over 25%, Yanitsa Petkova from Gallup told BNR.

Petkova specified that for now more people of active age, especially those over 30 years old, are voting. "Between the ages of 30 and 60 they have already cast their ballots."

Young people vote more in the afternoon, she added. 

Petkova urged people to be active in the exit polls because this is "the only chance to get results from the elections as early as tonight".

"We know the CEC will count votes slowly. This time the protocols are quite complicated."

A certain percentage of people are too shy to reveal their vote to the interviewers, noted Yannitsa Petkova in the "12+3" show

"There's no reason to worry. This is information that would be useful to all of us," she assured.

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