REPORT OF
THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
(April, 2008)
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan continued its activities for administration and conduct of Presidential Elections expected to be held Fall 2008.
Work on voter list is on process. The Central Election Commission has printed out the submitted voter lists and sent them back to the constituency election commissions (ConEC) for recheck. The constituency election commissions have already rechecked and updated the lists once more and submitted them back to the CEC. Currently, the Central Election Commission enters changes and corrections found out during the updating process into the single database of voters, and eliminates possible repetitions and errors examining them first. Updated voter lists are posted on CEC websites. The voters can check their names on voter lists through search system or using the lists for the precincts. Citizens having suffrage, who cannot find names on voter lists can contact the Central Election Commission’s hotline (115 or electronic hotline on website) for voters, as well as fill out the relevant form displayed on website and address it to the Central Election Commission. As statistics it is worth to say that about 80 appeals of different nature were received through the hotlines in April, and relevant actions have been taken due to the appeals.
The Central Election Commission intends to introduce alternative methods for voters to check their data. Discussions on this matter are being held with relevant institutions, and technical questions arisen are being examined at the moment. Some of those methods are expected to be introduced to the voters in May.
A broad voter education program through the mass media for encouraging voters to check their names on voter lists is being implemented. It is expected to extend this program and have it on till the elections. Public Service Announcement (PSA) “Check your name on voter list” developed by the Central Election Commission is being aired by different TV channels.
Due to the construction works going on in the country, some voters changed their residence and their addresses changed which causes necessity to intensively work on the voter list. Taking into account this fact, the Central Election Commission regularly gets information on voter migration within the constituencies and analyzes this information, ensures inclusion of those voters in the list of precincts where they moved in. Increase of number of voters, voter migration or putting into maintenance the newly constructed blocks of apartments cause exceed of limitation for the number of voters per precinct established by legislation that results with change of borders of precincts or creation of new precincts. The Central Election Commission, analyzing this process thoroughly, resolves such problems in cooperation with relevant institutions.
One of the important objectives is to locate precincts in comfortable buildings with good conditions for the upcoming 2008 Presidential Elections. In this respect, the Central Election Commission together with local executive authorities identified building offered. The CEC is examines if these buildings fit convenience for voting and gives relevant recommendations to the constituency election commissions. This process is on currently.
Secretariat to assist the constituency election commission’s work was created within the constituency election commission, in conformity with the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The secretaries that permanently function has 6 employees (including technical personnel) who are dealing with clerical work, finance, information provision, technical issues etc., and assists the commission to organize its activities. Persons nominated to take key positions at the secretariat have been interviewed by the Central Election Commission. They have been hired after they passed test on capacity.
During the months of April, some constituency election commissions moved to new administrative buildings or buildings they located were renovated. At the same time, equipment for the constituency election commissions was reconsidered and ConECs that needed additional equipment were provided with it. The Central Election Commission provides the constituency election commissions with samples of documents that assist them to administer their work and necessary legal information.
The Central Election Commission continues cooperation with international (foreign) institutions and meets with their representatives regularly, especially, with OSCE Baku Office and IFES. Some joint projects are planned to develop with abovementioned organizations. Projects related to the Presidential Elections are being developed and implemented with close cooperation with field representations of the international organizations.
On April 25, 2008, the Central Election Commission and OSCE Baku Office organized a joint seminar “Media in Elections.” 35 media outlets were invited to the event. The main objective of the seminar was to inform the media representatives that play critical role during the election campaign period about requirements of the election legislation and current international norms. International expert and members of the Central Election Commission spoke about election campaign during the Presidential Elections, transparency in activities of election commissions, election day, role of media in elections etc. They also answered participants’ questions. Members of the CEC, officials of the Apparat and representative of the international organizations attended the seminar.
The Central Election Commission prioritizes relationship with the media and tries to release the necessary information through the media representatives. In this respect, the CEC is implementing some activities. One of the components of the Central Election Commission’s public relations program is media briefings. The last briefing of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission for the media representatives was held on April 7. Representatives of key media outlets of the country were invited to that briefing. Mr.Mazahir Panahov, chairman of the Central Election Commission informed the journalists what have been done in detail and answered their questions.
Besides that, the Central Election Commission officials were invited to different TV channels (Public TV-April 10, ANS-April 18, Public TV-24 April) and were interviewed on different issues of public interest for news programs. Moreover, statements of the representatives of the Central Election Commission were distributed by news agencies and published on print outlets.
