A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026. Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years. Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

SOFIA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission.

The commission said that the polling stations in the country opened nationwide at 7 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and are due to close at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT).

Meanwhile, polling stations in 55 countries and regions are available for Bulgarians living abroad to cast their ballots.

Exit polls will be announced immediately after stations close in Bulgaria, and the final results should be announced no later than April 23.

The elections became inevitable after Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's coalition government resigned in December 2025 amid large-scale protests over the ruling majority's economic policy, and parliamentary parties subsequently failed to elect a new government.

Zhelyazkov's government took power on Jan. 16 last year after snap elections in October 2024.

The National Assembly is Bulgaria's legislative body. It also elects the government by a simple majority and has a four-year term, except in certain circumstances, such as when it cannot elect a government. ■

Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova votes at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026.

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

A voter is seen at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026.

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

People are seen at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026.

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

People are seen at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026.

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026.

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

People are seen at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026.

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)