Formation of Election (Referendum) Constituencies.
For holding of elections the Central Election Commission shall form 125 election (referendum) constituencies (hereinafter – election constituencies) every 5 years based on the information about the number of voters permanently residing and registered in the relevant territorial units provided by the municipalities and relevant executive bodies to the Central Election Commission. Election constituencies shall as a rule be formed on the basis of average representation norm. The average representation norm is specified by division of total number of registered voters by 125. Election constituencies shall be considered the single-mandate constituencies during the elections of deputies of the Milli Majlis, and the election territories – during the Presidential elections, referendum and elections of municipal members.
Voters residing outside the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be included on the voters lists in election constituencies. Information about the number of voters permanently residing outside the Republic of Azerbaijan, or being on long-term business trips and registered in the relevant diplomatic representations and consulates of Azerbaijan Republic shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission by a relevant executive power body. Based on the same information, the Central Election Commission shall approve a list of the relevant election constituencies for inclusion of the voters on the voters lists during referendum and Presidential elections. Number of voters in election constituencies where the voters residing outside Azerbaijan Republic are included on the lists should be less than the average norm of voters.
Election constituencies shall be formed upon observation of the following requirements:
As a rule, number of voters registered on the territory of administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Azerbaijan should be approximately the same under the condition that their number should not be 5 % more than the average representation norm and 10% more (less) than the average representation norm in distant places and places having impassable roads;
Formation of election constituencies in the territories not having boundaries between each other shall be prohibited.
Determining (changing) the boundaries of election constituencies purposefully for any of the voters group to be in majority shall not be allowed.
Upon observation of requirements on formation of election constituencies indicated in Articles 29.2 and 29.3 of this Code, necessity of intersection of the boundaries of municipality should be taken into consideration.
The Central Election Commission should approve the scheme of formation of election constituencies and their graphic images on the basis of information about voters, every 5-years within 30 days after the integrated voters list is compiled. During this period the scheme of formation of election constituencies and their graphic images can be re-approved taking into consideration the requirements provided in Articles 29.3 and 46 of this Code.
The scheme of formation of election constituencies and their graphic images, as well as proposals on boundaries of election constituencies shall be prepared by a commission on determining the boundaries of election constituencies created under the Central Election Commission and consisting of specialists. The work of such commission shall be supervised by the Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Republic, and he/she be considered the chairperson of the commission, due to his/her duties. Meetings of the Commission on Determining the Boundaries of Election Constituencies shall be held not later than two months after annual update of the Integrated Voters List. The main object of the mentioned commission shall be to ensure compliance of the election commissions with Articles 29.3 and 29.7 of this Code. Only 1/3 of members of such commissions can be on state service. If election constituencies are formed immediately before holding of election (referendum), the scheme of formation of election constituencies and their graphic images should be approved at least 115 days before election (referendum) day and be published at least 110 days before election (referendum) day.
The following should be indicated in the scheme of formation of election constituencies:
name and number of each election constituency;
list of municipalities of administrative-territorial units, or towns, district, districts in towns located in every election constituency (if election constituency includes a part of an administrative-territorial unit, municipality, and settlement, the boundaries of the part of the administrative-territorial unit, municipality, and settlement should be outlined in the scheme. If one election constituencies is formed in one administrative-territorial unit, list of municipalities located in the election constituency shall not be included in the scheme of formation of election constituency);
centre of each election constituency;
number of voters registered in each election constituency, number of voters registered in each municipality included in election constituency, in case of formation of more than one election constituency in administrative-territorial unit;
number of voters included on the lists in the relevant election constituencies in accordance with Article 29.2 of this Code, with indication of foreign countries where the voters residing outside the Republic of Azerbaijan live.
At the formation of election constituencies and specification of scheme of their formation, the State Automated Information System can be used.
29.9. A unified election constituency for election of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and conduct of a referendum shall cover the whole territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
29.10. According to Article 46 of this Code, voters included on the voters list in a constituency shall also be considered as voters included on the voters list in the unified election constituency.
