Approved by Decision # 31/250
dated on September 18, 2003 of the
Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan

COMMENT
on the rule for completing the protocol on the voting results during the Presidential Elections of the Constituency Election Commission

1. First copy of the protocol of PECs together with complaints (applications) related to the violation of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan entered the PEC on the voting day and decisions on these adopted by the PEC, acts on the reception of ballot papers by the PECs, acts on the cancel of the unused ballot papers (by indicating the number of such ballot papers), acts on the submission of voting cards and on the cancel of the unused voting cards (by indicating the number of these cards), acts on the number of the cut left corners of ballot papers, acts on the spoilt ballot papers indicated by Article 104.5 of the Election Code, act on the bound and stamped envelopes, on the locks given for ballot boxes but unused, ballot papers indicated by Article 105.3 of the Election Code and list of voters on the polling stations shall be sent to the Con.EC by accompany of the chairman of the PEC and two members representing different political parties. The above-mentioned acts are signed by the chairmen and secretaries of the PECs.
2. After the submission of the above-mentioned documents to the Con.EC, commissioners check the meeting of the submitted documents the requirements of item # 1 of this Comment, whether there is any inappropriateness in the voting results (in the protocol). Then the voting results are included in the final tabulation on the voting results (electoral returns).
3. The protocol of the Con.EC is compiled according to the generalization of all the information in the protocols of the PEC. The above-mentioned information shal be summarized without recess.

Remember:
It is not allowed to write the protocol with a pencil or to make any amendments to it. As the official protocol is prohibited to amend first its rough copy must be compiled.
4. The column for "the number of the PECs on the constituencies" of the protocol of the Con.EC should contain the number of the polling stations on the relevant Con.EC.
The column for "the number of the protocols submitted by PECs" should contain the number of the protocols submitted by other PECs excluding the polling stations where the voting was invalid.
The column for "the number of the protocols of the PECs adopted as a basis for the compiling of the protocol of the Con.EC" should contain the number of the protocols submitted by polling stations where elections have been valid (excluding the protocols submitted by PECs where the voting results have been considered invalid).
The column for "the number of the polling stations where the voting results have been considered invalid" should contain the number of the polling stations where the voting has been valid but the voting results have been considered invalid.
The column for "the number of polling stations where the voting has been invalid" should contain the number of the polling stations where the final protocol was not compiled as the voting was invalid because of the natural calamity, unavoidable events, inability of the police to restore the order and so on reasons.
Besides what were mentioned by item # 4, the protocol shall be completed in the following rule:
4.1. Item # 1 of the Protocol
general number of voters on constituencies;
a) the number of voters in the voters lists;
b) the number of voters voting with de-registration cards.
Note: Item # 1 of the PEC protocols on the voting results should contain the general number of voters in the voters lists (permanent and temporary voters lists) and voters voting with de-registration cards. The total of the numbers in "a" and "b" semi-items of this item shall be equal to the number indicated in the item # 1.
4.2. Item # 2 of the Protocol
3. the number of voters got de-registration cards;
Note:
Upon summing up the figures in the item # 2 of PEC protocols, the number of voters got de-registration cards in the Con.EC 45-25 days prior to the voting day shall be attached and indicated in this item.
4.3. Item # 3 of the Protocol
3. the number of the envelopes submitted to PECs by the Con.EC;

Note: The Con.EC provides the Pec with ballot papers together with envelopes to put ballot papers in the equal amount by compiling the relevant act. The number of envelopes indicated in this act shall be included in the item # 3 of the protocol.
4.4. Item # 4 of the Protocol
4. the number of ballot papers submitted to PECs by the Con.EC (4=5+6+7);
Note: This item should contain the number of ballot papers submitted to PECs by the Con.EC by compiling the relevant act.
Equity in the brackets (4=5+6+7), i.e. this item must be equal to the sum of the items # 5, 6 and 7 of the protocol.
4.5. Item #5 of the Protocol
5. the number of voters got stamped envelopes and ballot papers:
as well as:
a) outside the voting room;
b) in the voting room.
Note: This item should contain the number of voters got ballot papers and envelopes in the voting room and outside the voting room. Equity in the brackets (5(11+12+14), i.e. this item must be more than the total of items # 11, 12 and 14 or equal to it. This number must be equal to the total of the figures of "a" and "b" semi-items.
4.6. Item # 6 of the Protocol
6. the number of unused and canceled ballot papers;
Note:
The total of the figures of the item # 6 of PEC protocols shall be indicated in this item.
4.7.Item # 7 of the Protocol
7. the number of the spoilt ballot papers;
Note:
This item should contain the total of the figures of the item # 7 of PEC protocols.
4.8. Item # 8 of the Protocol
8. the number of stamped envelopes on ballot boxes (excluding the envelopes not in the defined form ) (8=9+10):
as well as:
a) in the portable ballot box;
b) in the stationary ballot box;
Note: This item should contain the total of the figures of the item # 8 of PEC protocols. The total of the figures in "a" and "b" semi-items of this item of PEC protocols shall be indicated in relevant semi-items of the protocol.
4.9. Item # 9 of the Protocol
9. the number of valid votes (the number of stamped envelopes with a ballot paper completed in accordance with law);
Note:
This item of the Con.EC protocol should contain the total of the number of items # 9 of PEC protocols.
4.10. Item # 10 of the Protocol
10. the number of invalid votes;
Note:
This item should contain the total of numbers of item # 10 of PEC protocols.
4.11. Item # 11 of the Protocol
11. the number of ballot papers in the defined form in the stamped envelopes of ballot boxes;
Note:
This item should contain the total of numbers indicated in the item # 11 of PEC protocols.
4.12. Item # 12 of the Protocol
12. the number of ballot papers not put in envelopes in ballot boxes (excluding the ones not in the defined form);
as well as:
a) in the portable ballot box;
b) in the stationary ballot box;
Note:
This item should contain the total of numbers in item # 12 of PEC protocols. The total of figures indicated in "a" and "b" semi-items of this item of PEC protocols shall be indicated in relevant semi-items of the protocol.
4.13. Item # 13 of the Protocol
13.the number of not stamped envelopes;
Note:
This item should contain the total of figures indicated in the item # 13 of PEC protocols.
4.14. Item # 14 of the Protocol
14. the number of not stamped envelopes in ballot boxes (excluding ballot papers not in the defined form);
Note:
This item should contain the total of figures indicated in the item # 14 of protocols of the Central Election Commission.
4.15. Item # 15 of the Protocol
15. Distribution of valid votes among candidates to presidency.
Note:
This item of the protocol should contain surnames, names and patronymics of candidates to presidency in the alphabetical order mentioned in the ballot paper and the number of votes cast for each candidate shall be written with words and figures. The number of the sum of votes cast for each candidate in PEC protocols shall be indicated in the column for the number of votes cast for this candidate with words and figures. The number of votes is written at the end of the tabulation and this number must be fully equal to the number of valid votes indicated in the item # 9 of the protocol.
If there is no equity in this number, then the protocol shall be considered invalid.
5. Date of compiling of the protocol is indicated after the full compiling of the protocol.
6. The Con.EC protocol shall be summarized on the summarizing of the information in the PEC protocols not later than the voting day without recess.
7. The protocol shall be compiled by commissioners with decisive rights and shall be signed by at least 2/3 members of commissioners with decisive rights. Commissioners with decisive rights who do not agree with the protocol or its separate parts can add his/her own special opinion and it is noted on this in the protocol. The compiling of the protocol can be observed by the persons implied by Articles 402 and 40.4 of the Election Code.
7.1. If the number of the persons who signed the protocols does not constitute at least 2/3 of the Con.EC commissioners or if the protocol has not been completed accurately, then it is considered invalid. It is prohibited to sign the protocol in the case of not completing or not fully completing of it by commissioners. The Con.EC commissioner who does not agree with the protocol or its separate parts can add his/her special opinion. In this case, he/she does not sign the protocol.
8. If the law violations during the conduct of elections (referenda) or defining the voting results does not allow to define the voters will or if the court adopted the relevant decision, then the Con.EC or PEC considers the voting invalid.
Notes:
1. The final protocol shall be prepared in the form of booklet from the carbonized sheet consisting of 3 copies (each copy shall be in the different colors).
2. While compiling the protocol the information of each item shall be indicated separately and shall be written with words and figures.
9. When preparing voting protocols at the same time the copies of voting protocols are also prepared by the Central Election Commission and are submitted to election commissions. Each election commission is provide with the copy of protocol in 30 copies. Serial numbers are not indicated in the polygraphical order in the copy of protocol and when completing the copy of protocol they are noted with words according to the relevant protocol. Protocol copies of the PEC submitted to registered candidates, their authorized representatives or agents, political parties, agents of the blocks of political parties and international observers shall be approved by the chairman or secretary of the commission with their request. In this case, this person signs the protocol after writing the words "Asli ile duzdur" ("Appropriate to its origin") and serial number of the protocol, approves by the stamp of the commission and puts the date of approval. The above-mentioned persons get a single of the approved copy of the protocol without any payment and get additional copies after paying the amount defined by the Central Election Commission.
10. Approved copies of complaints (applications), decisions by the PEC, the above-mentioned acts shall be attached to the second copy of the protocol.
11. The second copy of the protocol together with stamped ballot papers, cut left corners of these ballot papers, as well as list of the persons observed the voting and indicated in Articles 40.2 and 40.4 of the Election Code shall be preserved in the Con.EC Secretariat till the end of the commissions.
12. The PECs established outside the Republic of Azerbaijan shall send the first copy of the protocol on the voting results together with attached documents to the Con.EC defined by the Central Election Commission within 3 days since the voting day.
13. The third copy of the protocol shall be preserved in the information badge after the compiling of the protocol.
14. While compiling the rough copy of the voting protocol, all its items shall be checked again. If not any error is revealed, the original of the protocol must be compiled and sent to the Con.EC by the accompany of the chairman and members representing different political parties within 48 hours.
15. After signing the final protocol on the voting results its third copy shall be hang on the badges of the polling station in order to make the observers, mass media and other citizens aware and it is preserved for 10 days.