Approved by Decision
7/27-5
dated on July 18, 2008 of the
Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
INSTRUCTION
on the rules for the preparation and submission of ballot papers (ballot papers on referenda), voting protocols of Constituency and Precinct Election Commissions (Con.ECs and PECs), de-registration cards for voting to relevant election commissions in Presidential Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan
1. The Instruction determines the rules for the preparation and submission of ballot papers (ballot papers on referenda), voting protocols of election commissions, de-registration cards for voting to to Con.ECs and PECs according to Articles 99, 100, 101, 134, 166, 199 and 235 of Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereafter referred to as Election Code).
2. Before preparing ballot papers (ballot papers on referenda), voting protocols of election commissions (hereafter referred to as protocols), de-registration cards for voting (hereafter referred to as voting card), their text and format, rule of preparation and number shall be determined by Central Election (Referenda) Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereafter referred to as CEC) according to Articles 99, 100 and 101.
While approving the samples of ballot papers, protocols and voting cards, requirements of Articles 99.2, 99.3, 100.2-100.5 and 101.1 of Election Code shall be followed.
3. After performing the activities mentioned by the item #2 of this Instruction, CEC adopts decision on the preparation of ballot papers, protocols and voting cards.
4. For the preparation of ballot papers, protocols and voting cards, CEC submits the following documents separately to the publishing house:
4.1. the letter addressed to the publishing house according to CEC decision reflecting the information on the number of the ballot papers to be prepared (provided that their number doesn’t exceed more than 3 %of the number of the registered voters), Con.EC and PEC protocols and voting cards;
4.2. samples of ballot papers and envelopes approved by CEC.
5. According to Election Code, at least 10 days prior to the voting day, ballot papers and at least 55 days prior to the voting day, voting cards shall be prepared.
Ballot papers, protocols and voting cards shall be prepared by following Articles 99.4 and 100.6 of Election Code. At this time, the participation of CEC representatives should be ensured and the persons having right should be informed on this.
6. According to Article 100.11 of Election Code, the publishing house should prepare the unnumbered copies of the protocols with 30 copies for each election commissions together with the numbered protocols.
7. After the preparation of ballot papers, protocols and voting cards, the officials of the publishing house shall select the invalid ones out of the prepared ballot papers, protocols and voting cards.
The ballot papers, protocols and voting cards inappropriate with the sample determined by CEC from the view of text and format shall be considered invalid.
8. After selecting invalid ballot papers, protocols and voting cards, if the number of ballot papers, protocols and voting cards is found out to be less than the required number, then their number shall be appropriate with the ordered number.
Afterwards, valid ballot papers, protocols and voting cards shall be grouped on relevant constituencies.
9. After preparing valid ballot papers, protocols and voting cards at the defined number, they shall be turned over CEC by the publishing house.
Relevant acts should be compiled on turning over these ballot papers, protocols and voting cards. Text and format of the acts shall be compiled according to the Appendixes #1, 2 and 3 made to Instruction.
10. After turning over the ballot papers, protocols and voting cards according to order, the publishing house shall destroy invalid and already published ballot papers, protocols and voting cards. An act should be compiled on this by being signed by all participants (Appendixes # 4, 4a and 4b made to Instruction).
Turning over the valid ballot papers and destroying the ballot papers, protocols and voting cards already published and considered invalid can be observed by the members of lower election commissions having decisive and consultative rights, registered candidates or their authorized representatives or agents, authorized representatives, agents of political parties, political party blocs nominated candidates, authorized representatives of campaign group on referenda, local and international (foreign) observers. These persons should be beforehand informed on the place and time of turning over and destroying processes by CEC.
Destroying and turning over processes should be organized so as not to infringe these processes, their normal observation and normal working regime of the publishing house. But in any case, the right to observation should be ensured.
11. As to Articles 99.6, 100.8 and 101.2 of Election Code, after CEC receives ballot papers from the publishing house, shall organize their distribution at least 5 days prior to the voting day, by considering the number of the precincts, distribution of the protocols at least 20 days prior to the voting day and voting cards at least 50 days prior to the voting day.
Turning over process shall be implemented by compiling special acts with the participation of the Con.EC chairman and secretaries (Appendixes # 5, 6 and 7 made to Instruction).
The number of ballot papers provided to each PEC by the Con.EC shall be determined by the Con.EC decision. This number should not be less than 90 % and more than 0,5 % of the number of voters included in the voters’ list on the precinct up to the day of providing with ballot papers.
12. After turning over the ballot papers, protocols and voting cards, the Con.EC shall turn over ballot papers to the PECs at latest 3 days prior to the voting day, protocols at latest 4 days and voting cards at least 25 days prior to the voting day. During turning over special acts are compiled (Appendixes # 8, 9 and 10 made to Instruction).
13. After turning over the ballot papers, the following actions shall be implemented related on this:
13.1. ballot papers shall be counted and the result approved by the commission’s decision (if incompatibility between the number of the ballot papers to be provided and received is found out, then the Con.EC should be informed on this);
13.2. upper right corner on the front side of each ballot paper shall be approved by the commission’s stamp;
13.3. the ballot papers, protocols and voting cards are ensured to be kept in the building of precinct and closely protected place.
14. for keeping the ballot papers, protocols and voting cards, since turning over till distributing among Con.ECs CEC, since turning over from CEC till distributing among PECs Con.EC chairman, since turning over from the Con.EC till turning over to the Con.EC together with all other election documents mentioned by Article 106.7 of Eection Code after the voting the PEC chairman shall carry liability.
After turning over the ballot papers, protocols and voting cards to relevant election commissions, during their providence on the appointment all necessary measures of security should be taken.
