Parallel counts: Market Links puts Gyurov ahead – young voters lean to Gyurov
Four of five pollsters show Iotova in front, Market Links shows Gyurov. Among 18- to 30-year-olds Gyurov leads 38 to 31 percent, says Alpha Research. Turnout: about 22 percent.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Pollsters' parallel counts at 100 percent of their samples differ on the gap between the two front-runners. Alpha Research has Iotova on 34.6 percent and Gyurov on 32.7, Myara 35 to 31.9, Trend 36.5 to 31 and Gallup International Balkan 34.1 to 32.3. Only Market Links puts Gyurov ahead, at 33.5 to 32.7 percent. Election commission data as of 5 a.m. so far confirm Iotova's lead.
Pollsters estimate turnout at between 22.1 percent (Trend) and 22.5 percent (Alpha Research). According to Boryana Dimitrova of Alpha Research, the sharpest drop was among supporters of the governing parties rather than among backers of parties without their own candidate. Turnout was particularly low in Roma neighbourhoods and in areas where the DPS holds sway, the daily Sega reported.
Alpha Research's exit poll also shows a generational divide: among voters aged 18 to 30, Gyurov won 38 percent and Iotova 31 percent. Among 31- to 60-year-olds, Iotova led 35 to 33 percent.