STORY: Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday (November 1) to elect a president after a tight race between the two leading candidates failed to produce an outright winner in last weekend's first round vote for the largely ceremonial role.

Incumbent president, Iliana Iotova, 61, led over ex-caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov, 50, but fell short of the 50% threshold in the first round race of 27 candidates that saw a record-low turnout.

Exit polls will be published after voting ends at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), with a result likely on Monday (November 2) as the ballot papers are counted.

A victory for Iotova would make her Bulgaria's first elected female president. She became acting president in January after Radev resigned to enter and win a parliamentary race on what many political analysts considered a Kremlin-friendly ticket.

Gyurov, who served as caretaker prime minister this year, is supported by pro-Western, reformist parties and has long expressed support for Ukraine. He signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his time as premier.

A host of right-leaning political figures, among them ex-premier Boiko Borisov, have expressed support for Gyurov.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: SOFIA, BULGARIA (NOVEMBER 1, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. POLLING AREA ENTRANCE

2. ELECTION SIGNAGE

3. VARIOUS OF GENERAL VOTING UNDERWAY IN BULGARIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RUNOFF

4. VARIOUS OF VOTER, VALENTINA TODOROVA, GOING THROUGH VOTING PROCESS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) 75-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER, VALENTINA TODOROVA, SAYING:

"What people expect from them is to unite the nation—for the institution (the presidency) itself to have meaning. For so many years, we've just been... Well, we kept hoping. Especially those of us who are older—and we were always lied to about things that matter to us."

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) 29-YEAR-OLD LEGAL AIDE, BORISLAVA TOSHEVA, SAYING:

"They need to take a stand and be able to defend it. They must be moral, principled in their dealings with others and show respect. They should set an example and be capable of striking a balance."

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) 55-YEAR-OLD MATH TEACHER, BOYAN IOTSOV, SAYING:

"The president's job is to unite the nation. Our nation, and not only ours, is in dire need of a unifying figure. Yet, for quite a few years now, the president hasn't fulfilled that role—hasn't done that kind of work in Bulgaria. This is what we need."

8. VARIOUS OF BOYAN IOTSOV GOING THROUGH VOTING PROCESS

9. ELECTION OFFICER WORKING

10. VOTER AT POLLING BOOTH