Is approved by the decision
of Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
dated to July 15, 2003, # 14/83

Instruction
on working rules of observers assigned by the candidates for presidency, political parties, blocks of political parties and non-governmental organizations engaged in election sphere

1. In conformity with the article 40.1 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan the activity of election commissions should be transparent to voters.
1.1. The citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan having active voting right can be observers. The individuals inclined to be observer should apply to the relevant election commission with application and submit relevant documents.
1.2. In conformity with the article 40.5 of the Election Code the observer can conduct observation on his/her own initiative or on the initiative of the registered candidate, political parties, blocks of political parties, non-government organizations engaged in election sphere.
1.3. The registered candidate, political parties nominating candidates, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere have the right to assign one observer to each election commission.
1.4. According to the article 40 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan it is considered to conduct observation within the whole territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and within the territory of one or another constituency.
1.5. If it is considered to conduct observance within the whole territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan the application for conduct of observance can be submitted to the Central Election Commission within the period beginning from announcement of election day to 10 days prior to election day.
2. The registered candidates, political parties nominating candidates, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere should specify the family name, name, patronymic name, address, serial number and number of identification card, as well as their names and legal addresses. Besides, the application should include to photos of the observer. The Central Election Commission reviews the received applications within 3 days and makes decision. The application is rejected if the information specified in the application is disapproved. In case of approval the Central Election Commission gives a badge to each observer.
2.1. If the registered candidates, political parties nominating candidates, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere intend to conduct observations within the territory of one or another constituency they can apply to the relevant constituency election commission (Con.EC) with application in 5 days prior to election day. Family name, name, patronymic name, address, serial number and number of identification card of the assigned observer, as well as their names and legal addresses should be specified in the application. Besides, the application should include two photos of each observer. Con.EC reviews the received applications and makes decision within 2 days. The application can be rejected if the information specified in the application is disapproved. In case of approval Con.EC gives a badge in the form identified by the Central Election Commission.
2.2. Those observers are free of requirements of special permissions to observe the meeting of election commissions in the election day.
2.3. Only the observers registered by the Central Election Commission and authorized by special permits have the right to observe the meetings of election commissions prior to election day. This right should be specified in the badges given to them.
2.4. Each of the registered candidates, political parties nominating candidates, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere may have one observer having this right. For that, the Central Election Commission draws lot and observers are determined according to the results of the lot. The number of those observers should not exceed 10.
2.5. The observers of the candidates, political parties, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere can independently and freely conduct observations without any obstacle and necessary conditions should be created.
3. The conduct of observation by the observers assigned by the candidates, political parties, and blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere is based upon the following principles:
- there should be no pressure under the interests of any candidates, political parties, and blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere;
- the observation should be open;
- all the cases and facts related to the observed activities should be considered;
- the results of the observation should be based on facts;
These principles should be stated in the backside of the badge of the observer.
3.1. The observers assigned by the candidates, political parties, and blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere have the following rights:
- to be acquainted by the list of voters;
- to observe election activities, determination of the early and returns of election, and composition of protocols of election returns;
- to observe preparation and giving of ballot papers (for that, special permission should be obtained from the Central Election Commission)
- to observe counting of votes;
- to observe re-counting of votes;
- to conduct observation of meeting of the election commission till the election day (if the observer has special permission of the Central Election Commission to have this right);
- to be in the voting room of the relevant polling station any time in the election day;
- to observe giving of ballot papers and envelopes to put them in;
- to address the chairperson of the election commission or acting chairperson during his/her absence with proposals and objections
- to observe counting of ballot papers, invalidated ballot papers;
- to require to add the results of the observation to the protocol of the election commission;
- to get acquainted with the protocol of the election commission on the election returns and other documents;
- to get one authorized copy of protocols on election returns, composed or appended attachments to them from the beginning of voting till the receiving of voting protocols on election day without payment;
- to get additional copies paying on the rules stipulated by the CEC;
- to observe counting of ballot papers and votes in ballot box and mobile ballot box;
- to observe sending of election documents to ConEC or the CEC;
3.2. The observers assigned by the candidates, political parties, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere can not use their statuses for the purposes irrelevant to elections.
4. The observers assigned by the candidates, political parties, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere have the following restrictions;
- to give ballot papers and envelopes to put them in to the voters;
- to complete the ballot papers in place of the voter at his/her1 request;
- to put signature confirming the receiving of ballot paper in place of the voter at his/her request;
- to give questions to the voter how s/he is going to vote or has already voted;
- to campaign among voters;
- to create obstacles to the work of election commission;
- to interfere to the decision-making process of other election commission;
- to answer the questions of voters those are not relevant to the status of the observer;
- directly participate in counting process together with election commissioners having the decisive voting right;
4.1. The registration of observers who do not observe the above mentioned requirements could be canceled by a relevant court upon the application of the election commission that registered him.
4.2. The authorities of the observers appointed by the candidates, political parties, blocks of political parties as well as non-government organizations engaged in election sphere shall be invalidated on the day of official announcement of the results of the presidential elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan.