Citizens of European Union member states who want to vote in Bulgaria's European Parliament elections on June 7 2009 must fill in an application form at the office of the municipality where they reside in by April 27 2009.

Only EU citizens who have lived permanently in the country in the past three months and have permanent residence can vote in Bulgaria.

The form is universal and once filed, deprives the holder's right to vote in any other EU country at the elections.

This will be Bulgaria's second election for MEPs. In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania elected 18 MEPs after the two countries joined the EU that year. Now Bulgaria will send 17 MEPs. The threshold for the election of an MEP is 5.88 per cent.

The election campaign for the elections starts on May 17 2009 and ends on June 6 2009. By May 12 2009 all parties, coalitions and initiative committees must register with the CEC. By May 15 2009, all candidate MPs must also register.

Parties must pay a deposit of 50 000 leva and collect 15 000 signatures in support. Coalitions have to deposit 100 000 leva each and should have 20 000 signatures.

An initiative committee must be composed of at least seven people and must deposit 15 000 leva and present 10 000 signatures in their support.

By April 22 2009, all members of the 31 Regional Election Committees must be appointed. Each will have 25 members.

Bulgaria will hold its national parliamentary elections somewhere between June 28 and July 5 2009.