Election Ballot Papers.
Rules for preparation, text and format of election ballot papers (hereinafter – ballot paper), their number and requirements for preparation shall be approved by the Central Election Commission at least 35 days prior to the voting day.
Surnames of candidates in the ballot paper shall appear in the alphabetical order.
Each ballot paper should be numbered one-by-one and in sequence, in accordance with the rule established by the Central Election Commission and should contain instructions on how to complete it. The Number of the ballot shall be indicated on its cut-off corner.
Ballot papers shall be published by decision of the Central Election Commission in printing houses at least 10 days prior to the voting date and under observation of members of the Central Election Commission. The number of prepared ballot papers can exceed the number of voters registered in the relevant election constituencies by at most 3%
The printing house shall ensure sorting out of defected ballot papers from the usable ones and submit the ballot papers to the authorized representative of the Central Election Commission according to the act containing indication of their quantity, date and time of issuance and numbers. Having submitted ballot papers in accordance with the order, employees of the printing house destroy defective and extra ballot papers and draws up an act about this signed by all participants. The members of the Central Election Commission and persons indicated in Articles 40.2. and 40.4. can oversee the execution of those actions. The Central Election Commission should give information to registered candidates and authorized representatives of political parties, blocks of political parties or referendum campaign groups about place and time of distribution of ballot papers.
After receipt of ballot papers from the printing house, at least 5 days prior to the voting day, the Central Election Commission, in the presence of the chairman and secretaries of Constituency Election Commission, shall draw up an act containing information about the number of ballot papers, date and time of their issuance, and hand out the ballot papers to the chairman. The Constituency Election Commission shall submit the ballot papers to Precinct Election Commissions in accordance with established procedure at least 3 days prior to the voting day. The number of ballot papers given to Precinct Election Commissions cannot be less than 90% or 0,5% more than the number of voters included on the list of an election precinct up to the day of submission of the ballot papers. Ballot papers shall be counted by the Precinct Election Commission and the number of obtained ballot papers be verified by decision of the Precinct Election Commission. If the number of ballots to be issued does not coincide with that of issued ballots, then the Constituency Election Commission shall immediately be informed about the matter. The top right corner of the ballot papers shall be verified by the seal of Precinct Election Commission.
Chairpersons of election commissions that submit, receive and protect ballot papers shall bear responsibility for submission and storage of the ballot papers.
In exceptional cases and if technical facilities are available, in ships navigating on the voting day and in election precincts organized outside the Azerbaijan Republic, Precinct Election Commissions shall be allowed to produce election documents, including ballot papers, pursuant to Articles 35.4 and 35.6 of this Code. Decision on production of election documents with indication of appropriate circulation shall be made by a relevant Precinct Election Commission on agreement with the Central Election Commission.
After the end of voting time on the voting day all unused ballot papers in the Constituency Election Commission shall be cancelled and the Constituency Election Commission shall draw an act about this fact. Persons indicated in Articles 40.2. and 40.4 can participate at cancellation of the ballot papers. Cancelled ballot papers shall be stored in the secretariat of the commission together with other documents.
If some candidates are withdrawn or their registration is cancelled after the ballot papers are produced, then following the decision of the Central Election Commission the Constituency or Precinct Election Commissions shall place on the notice board of the Precinct Election Commission the information about such candidates or political parties, blocks of political parties from the ballot papers, and the information on adding or amending the information regarding the registered candidate, political party or block of political parties in the printed ballot paper.
