..::Central Election Comission of the Republic of Azerbaijan::..

. : CALENDAR PLAN

Approved by the decision #25/104
of Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
dated on October 7, 2009

C A L E N D A R P L A N

ON BASIC ACTIVITIES AND MEASURES CONCERNED WITH PREPARATION AND
CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23, 2009

Raw number	Basic activities and measures	Implementer	Timeframe
Raw number	Basic activities and measures	Implementer	Established by the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan	Recommended period
1 (1)	Appointment of municipal elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan	Central Election Commission	At least 75 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 8.1, 213.1
2 (2)	Official publication of the CEC’s decision on appointment of municipal elections in mass media	Central Election Commission	At latest within two days after the adoption of the decision on appointment of elections Article 213.2
3 (3)	Nomination of candidates to municipality membership	Political parties, blocks of political parties, initiative groups of voters, and citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who live permanently in the same election constituency and have the right to vote	After the official publication of the decision on appointment of elections Article 214
4 (4)	Adoption of the decision on the approval or refusal of candidate nomination	Constituency Election Commission	Within 5 days after providing the election commission with documents Articles: 53.6, 53.7, 54.9, 54.10
5 (5)	Submission of signature sheets to a candidate or his/her authorized representative, as well as to authorized representatives of political parties and blocs of political parties	Constituency Election Commission	From the day of making decision on nomination of a candidate in relevant Constituency election commission Articles: 53.6, 54.9
6 (6)	Collection of voters signatures in support of a candidate	Citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan with active suffrage, who has attained 18 years	After adoption of the decision of constituency election commission on the approval of candidate nomination Articles: 56,57,215
7 (10)	Registration of observers Submission of badges to observers in a format designed by the Central Election Commission	Central Election Commission, Constituency election commissions	Decision on each application for observation is made by the CEC within 3 days after submission of such application, and within 2 days by the Con.EC. After decision on satisfying the application on observation is made. Articles: 25.2.20, 40.6, 40.7, 44.4
8 (16)	Opening special election account for formation of election fund Opening of special election account by political party or blocs of political parties to form the unified election fund of candidates nominated in more than 1/3 of municipalities	A candidate or his/her authorized representative, authorized representatives on financial issues of political parties, blocs of political parties. Political party, bloc of political parties which nominated candidates in more than 1/3 of municipalities	Within 5 days after submission of notification on nomination of a candidate to constituency election commission, at least 24 hours prior to the collection of necessary number of voters’ signatures. Articles: 91.1, 91.2, 226.1, 226.2 Within 5 days of submitting the list of the candidates to the CEC Article 226.2
9 (18)	Checking accuracy of signature sheets and information submitted in other documents; making decision on registration or refusing registration of a candidate	Constituency Election Commission	Within 10 days after receipt of signature sheets and other documents necessary for registration of a candidate Articles: 60, 216
10 (19)	Registration of agents appointed by candidate, political party or bloc of political parties and providing them with badges	Constituency Election Commission	Within 3 days after receipt of written application of the candidate on appointment of agents, or submission of application by political party, bloc of political parties, as well as letter of consent of a citizen on becoming an agent Articles: 72.1, 72.2, 220.1
11 (33)	Allocation of relevant places for the conduction of pre-election campaign, provide with relevant places of state or municipal property to conduct meetings with voters	Local executive power offices and municipalities upon order of constituency election commission	Taking into consideration periods for conduct of pre-election campaign Articles: 11, 86.3, 86.7
12 (47)	Posting the information from the 3rd copy of final protocol of the precinct election commission on voting results on notice board	Precinct Election Commissions	After being compiled, the 3rd copy of the protocol shall be posted on the notice board, and kept there for 5 days Article 106.11
13(49)	Posting of the 3rd copy of protocol of the Constituency Election Commission and copies of protocols of relevant Precinct Election Commissions on the notice board	Constituency Election Commission	After being compiled the 3rd copy of protocol and copies of protocols of relevant Precinct Election Commissions shall be posted on the notice board, and kept there for 10 days Article 107.7
14 (50)	Publication of preliminary election results in election constituencies (municipalities) in the form of table unifying election results	Central Election Commission	Immediately after the Constituency Election Commission submits the protocols on voting results to the Central Election Commission Article 109.1
15 (57)	Submission of the final financial report on election funds to Constituency Election Commissions	Registered candidate, political party, bloc of political parties	At latest 10 days after the official publication of election results Article 94.3.3
16 (59)	Providing the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and mass media with the information on use of state funds, expenditure of election funds of candidates, registered candidates, political parties and blocks of political parties Publication of the above mentioned financial report and information in the official press office of the Central Election Commission	Central Election Commission Central Election Commission	Within 3 months after the official publication of general election results Within 1 month starting from the submission of financial report and information to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Article 96.9

(Regularly)

1 (11)	Conducting of specialized training courses on election rights for election officials	Central Election Commission	Paragraph 30 of December 28, 2006 Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Approval of the National Action Plan on Protection of human Rights”	Regularly
2 (12)	Conducting of seminars and conferences devoted to elections for members of constituency election commissions	Members of the Central Election Commission and employees of CEC’s Secretariat	Articles: 25.2.7, 26.2.10	Regularly
3 (13)	Organization of trainings on election instructions and conduct other programs concerned with increasing of professionalism of the members of constituency and precinct election commissions	Jointly by training groups of the Central Election Commission and different international bodies	Article 25.2.7	Regularly
4 (14)	Training for Constituency Election Commission’s computer operators working with state computerized information system	Article 25.2.10	Article 25.2.10	Regularly
5 (15)	Provision of the explanation of election legislation through TV/radio programs and other broadcasting means, increasing the legal awareness of election subjects (speeches, interviews, round tables), preparation and exhibition of visual means (videos, posters, booklets etc.)	Articles: 25.2.7, 26.2.10	Articles: 25.2.7, 26.2.10	Regularly
6 (21)	Display of voter list on internet site of “Elections” Information Center of the Central Election Commission Display of voters lists on the same site	“Elections” Information Center of the Central Election Commission	After CEC approves it in accordance with the rules established by the CEC Articles: 46.1, 46.12 On the basis of relevant Instructions of the CEC	Regularly

(October)

1 (17)	Submission of election documents and the initial financial report to the constituency election commission for registration of a candidate	Candidate or his authorized representative, authorized representative of political party or blocs of political parties	At the most 65 days and at least by 18:00, 40 days prior to the Voting Day Articles: 58, 94.3.1	Since October 19, 2009 up to November 13, by 18:00
2 (22)	Approval of requirements for design, preparation rules, number of de-registration (voting) cards, design and preparation of issuance register	Central Election Commission	At least 55 days before Voting Day Article 101.1	Until October 29, 2009

(November)

1 (17)	Submission of election documents and the initial financial report to the constituency election commission for registration of a candidate	Candidate or his authorized representative, authorized representative of political party or blocs of political parties	At the most 65 days and at least by 18:00, 40 days prior to the Voting Day Articles: 58, 94.3.1	Since October 19, 2009 up to November 13, by 18:00
2 (20)	Display of voters’ lists for voters to become familiar with it and to make it more accurate	Precinct Election Commissions	At least 35 days prior to Voting Day Article 48.1	Until November 18, 2009
3 (23)	Transfer of de-registration (voting) cards from the Central Election Commission to Constituency Election Commissions and from Constituency Election commissions to Precinct Election Commissions	Central Election Commission, Constituency Election commissions	De-registration cards shall be transferred from the Central Election commission to theConEC at least 50 days prior to Voting day; from ConEC to PEC – 25 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 101.1, 101.2	Until November 3, 2009 Until November 28, 2009
4 (24)	Publication of the lists of registered candidates to membership in municipalities in periodicals indicated in Articles 77.3 and 77.4 of Election Code	Constituency Election Commissions	At least 25 days prior to Voting Day Article 216.5	Until November 28, 2009
5 (25)	Periods for conduct of election campaign	Registered candidates, political parties, blocs of political parties that have registered candidates	Starts 28 days prior to Voting Day and ends 24 hours prior to start of Voting Day Article 75	Starts November 25, 2009, ends December 22, 8.00
6 (26)	Establishment of election precincts immediately before the elections: a) in military units located outside of residential settlements	Constituency Election Commissions in coordination with relevant executive authorities in the area where voters live and municipalities;	At least 50 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 35.2, 35.5	Until November 3, 2009
	b) in those places in exceptional cases	Commanders of military units in accordance with a decision of relevant constituency election commissions	At least 5 days prior to Voting day Article 35.5	Until December 18, 2009
7 (27)	Publication of the list of polling stations with clearly indicated numbers and boundaries (if the polling station covers part of a settlement), as well as, information on precinct election commissions, their contact numbers, and locations (addresses) of voting rooms		At least 45 days prior to Voting Day Article 35.7 Information on election precincts indicated in Article 35.5 which are established in exceptional cases shall be published not later than 2 days after their establishment Article 35.7	Until November 8, 2009
8 (28)	Approval of requirements on text and layout, quantity and requirements for preparation of voting protocols of the election commissions	Central Election Commission	Not later than 45 days prior to Voting Day Article 100.1	Until November 8, 2009
9 (29)	Issuing of de-registration (voting) cards for the voter by relevant constituency and precinct election commissions	Constituency Election Commission	45-25 days prior to Voting day	From November 8 to November 28, 2009 From November 29 to December 20, 2009
		Precinct Election Commission	24-3 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 101.2-101.4	From November 29 to December 20, 2009
10 (30)	Update of voters’ lists for polling stations created in remote and almost impassible distant places Update of voters’ lists (military personnel of military unit, family members of military personnel residing within the territory of the military unit, accused persons detained in investigative facilities, inmates in penitentiary establishments and other voters) for polling stations created within the territory of military units, investigative facilities and penitentiary establishments	Precinct Election Commissions on the basis of provided information on voters	At least 25 days prior to Voting Day, in exceptional cases 2 days after the formation of the precinct election commission Article 46.5 At least 25 days prior to Voting day Article 46.6	Until November 28, 2009 Until November 28, 2009
11 (31)	Approval of requirements on text and layout, quantity and requirements for preparation of election ballots	Central Election Commission	At least 35 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 99, 235	Until November 18, 2009
12 (32)	Selection of relevant locations for the placement of pre-election campaign materials within the territory of polling stations	Local executive power offices and municipalities upon proposals of constituency election commissions	At least 30 days prior to Voting day Article 87.6	Until November 23, 2009
13 (34)	Preparation of voting protocols	Relevant printing offices based on the decision of Central Election Commission	Not later than 30 days prior to Voting Day Article 100.6	Until November 23, 2009
14 (35)	Informing the voters about the place and time of elections through mass media means or notice boards on Voting Day	Precinct Election Commissions	At least 25 days prior to Voting Day Article 104.1	Until November 28, 2009

(December)

1 (7)	Appeal to the Central Election Commission for special permission to observe commission meetings until voting day being accredited by the Central Election Commission	A citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan with active suffrage on his/her own initiative, as well as on the initiative of registered candidate, political party, bloc of political parties, non-governmental organization that functions in the field of elections	Upon announcement of Election Day until 10 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 1.1.19, 40.4-40.6, 40.13	Until December 13, 2009
2 (8)	Submission of applications on observation in entire territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Central Election Commission	By the personal initiative of a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan who possess active suffrage, as well as on the basis of initiative of registered candidate, political party, bloc of political parties, non-governmental organizations acting in the field of elections; International (foreign) observers (having been accredited by the Central Election Commission upon arrival in the Republic of Azerbaijan at the relevant invitation made in accordance with the rules defined by legislation)	Upon announcement of Election Day until 10 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 40.4-40.6, 44	Until December 13, 2009
3 (9)	Submission of applications on observations on observation within a constituency to the constituency election commission of relevant constituency.	By the personal initiative of a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan who possess active suffrage, as well as on the basis of initiative of registered candidate, political party, bloc of political parties, non-governmental organizations acting in the field of elections;	Upon announcement of Election Day until 5 days prior to Voting Articles: 40.4, 40.5, 40.7	Until December 18, 2009
4 (25)	Periods for conduct of election campaign	Registered candidates, political parties, blocs of political parties that have registered candidates	Starts 28 days prior to Voting Day and ends 24 hours prior to start of Voting Day Article 75	Starts November 25, 2009, ends December 22, 8.00
5 (26)	Establishment of election precincts immediately before the elections: a) in military units located outside of residential settlements	Constituency Election Commissions in coordination with relevant executive authorities in the area where voters live and municipalities;	At least 50 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 35.2, 35.5	Until November 3, 2009
	b) in those places in exceptional cases	Commanders of military units in accordance with a decision of relevant constituency election commissions	At least 5 days prior to Voting day Article 35.5	Until December 18, 2009
6 (29)	Issuing of de-registration (voting) cards for the voter by relevant constituency and precinct election commissions	Constituency Election Commission	45-25 days prior to Voting day	From November 8 to November 28, 2009
		Precinct Election Commission	24-3 days prior to Voting Day Articles: 101.2-101.4	From November 29 to December 20, 2009
7 (36)	Providing the constituency and precinct election commissions with voting protocols, respectfully from Central Election Commission to constituency election commissions and from constituency election commissions to precinct election commissions.	Central Election Commission Constituency Election Commission	At least 20 days prior to Voting Day Article 100.8 At least 4 days prior to Voting Day Article 100.8	Until December 3, 2009 Until December 19, 2009
8 (37)	Submission of second initial financial report	Registered candidate or his/her authorized representative, authorized representative on financial issues of political parties, blocs of political parties	No sooner than 20, no later than 10 days prior to Voting Day Article 94.3.2.	From December 3 to December 13, 2009
9 (38)	Receipt of documents for accreditation submitted by the organization willing to conduct “exit-poll”	Central Election Commission	At least 20 days prior to Voting Day, in accordance with relevant Instruction of the Central Election Commission Article 25.2.23	Until December 3, 2009
10 (39)	Making a decision on accreditation of organizations applied for conduct of “exit-poll”	Central Election Commission	At least 10 days prior to Voting Day, in accordance with relevant Instruction of the Central Election Commission Article 25.2.23	Until December 13, 2009
11 (40)	Preparation of election ballots	Relevant printing house based on the decision of the Central Election Commission	At least 10 days prior to Voting Day Article 99.4	Until December 13, 2009
12 (41)	Distribution of notifications with the date, time, and place (address of the precinct election commission) of elections to the voters	Precinct Election commissions	At least 7 days prior to Voting Day	Until December 16, 2009
13 (42)	Providing the constituency and precinct election commissions with election ballots, respectfully from Central Election Commission to constituency election commissions and from constituency election commissions to precinct election commissions.	Central Election Commission Constituency Election Commissions	At least 5 days prior to Voting Day Article 99.6 At least 3 days prior to Voting Day Article 99.6	Until December 18, 2009 Until December 20, 2009
14 (43)	Conduction of voting: a) Announcement of the opening of poling station; b) Announcement of the initiation of voting; c) Announcement of the closure of the polling station	Precinct Election Commission , a,b,c) – chairperson of precinct election commission	a) voting day – 7.50 hrs; b) voting day – 8.00 hrs; c) voting day 19.00 hrs Articles: 104, 105, 236	December 23, 2009
15 (46)	Submission of the precinct election commission the first copy of final protocols on election results together with the additional documents attached to it to the constituency election commission	Precinct Election Commissions	Protocol shall be sent immediately after counting of votes, but not later than 24 hours after Voting Day Article 106.7	Not later than December 24, 2009, 19.00
16 (48)	Determination of the election results on municipalities in election constituency, completion of the constituency election commission’s protocol on the basis of unified information from protocols of precinct election commissions and submission of 1st copy of protocol, together with the attached documents, to the Central Election Commission	Constituency Election Commissions	Not later than 2 days after Voting Day Articles: 107.1-107.6, 238	Not later than December 25, 2009
17 (51)	Official publication of information on the election results obtained from the protocols of Precinct Election Commissions in mass media indicated in Articles 77.3-77.4 of Election Code	Constituency Election Commissions, relevant mass media	At latest 5 days after the Voting Day Article 109.4	Not later than December 28, 2009
18 (53)	Submission of the Precinct Election Commission’s financial report on the transfer and spending of the funds allocated from the state budget to the Constituency Election Commission	Precinct Election commissions	Within 5 days after the Voting Day Article 96.6	Not later than December 28, 2009

(Voting day)

1 (44)

Submission of initial information on voting process, participation of voters in voting (5 times during the day)

Precinct and constituency election commissions, “Elections” Information Center of the Central Election Commission

Article 110.5

Voting Day:
10.00 hrs
12.00 hrs
15.00 hrs
17.00 hrs
19.00 hrs

(Voting day and next day)

1 (45)

Displace of information on election results from final protocols of precinct election commission on internet site of “Elections” Information Center of the Central Election Commission

“Elections” Information Center of the Central Election Commission

Articles: 110.5, 110.6

Voting day and next day

(January)

1 (52)	Official publication of information on the election outcomes obtained from the protocols of Constituency Election Commissions in mass media indicated in Articles 77.3-77.4 of Election Code	Constituency Election Commissions	At latest 10 days after the Voting Day Article 109.4	Not later than January 2, 2010
2 (54)	Submission of the Constituency Election Commission’s financial report on the transfer and spending of the funds allocated from the state budget to the Central Election Commission	Constituency Election Commissions	Within 10 days after the Voting Day Article 96.7	Not later than January 2, 2010
3 (55)	Checking and approval of the election outcomes	Central Election Commission	At latest 20 days starting from the Voting Day Article: 108.2, 239	Not later than January 11, 2010
4 (56)	Announcement of the election outcomes	Central Election Commission	At latest 30 days starting from the Voting Day Article 241	Not later than January 21, 2010

(February)

1 (58)

Publication of entire information on voting results and election outcomes in municipal elections obtained from the protocols of the Constituency Election Commissions in mass media indicated in Article 77.2 of Election Code and placing it in internet site of the Central Election Commission

Central Election Commission

Within 45 days after the Voting Day

Article: 109.2, 246

Not later than February 6, 2010

(June)

1 (60)

Publication of the information on election results obtained from the protocols of precinct and Constituency Election Commissions in official edition of the Central Election Commission

Central Election Commission

Within 6 months after the Voting Day

Article: 109.5, 246

Not later than June 24, 2010