§ 37. Verification of voting results at polling division
(1) Ballot boxes shall be opened after the close of voting. More than one-half of the members of the division committee shall be present at the opening.
(2) Before opening the ballot boxes, the division committee shall count and cancel all ballots that were not issued to electors and spoiled ballots returned by them. Ballots shall be cancelled by cutting off a corner of the ballot.
(3) Upon opening the ballot box, the state of the seal on the ballot box shall be checked.
(4) Before opening the ballot box, the division committee shall, on the basis of the polling lists, verify and enter in the standard format record the number of electors entered in the lists and, on the basis of the signatures in the polling lists given in receipt of a ballot, the number of electors who received ballots.
(5) The division committee shall, on the basis of the ballots in the ballot box, verify and enter in the standard format record the number of electors who participated in the voting, the number of invalid ballots and the number of votes in favour of candidates and candidates lists.
(6) A ballot:
1) which does not bear two seals of the division committee;
2) onto which no candidate registration number or more than one candidate registration number is marked;
3) which is marked with the number of a candidate who is not running in the electoral district;
4) which is marked with a corrected candidate registration number but which is ambiguous; or
5) which is marked with an illegible candidate registration number shall be considered invalid.
If a ballot is not completed according to the requirements, but it clearly indicates in favour of whom the elector voted, the ballot shall be considered valid. In case of doubt, the division committee shall determine the validity of the ballot by a vote.
(7) A standard format record shall be prepared concerning the verification of voting results. The record shall be signed by the chairman and secretary of the committee. The date and time of preparation shall be indicated in the record.
(8) After verification of voting results, the valid ballots by candidate, invalid ballots, ballots which were not issued to electors and ballots returned by electors shall be packaged separately. The polling division from which the ballots originate and the type and number of ballots in the packet shall be marked on the packet. The chairman of the division committee shall sign the label.
(9) Ballots, polling lists, decisions of the committee, records, dissenting opinions of committee members and petitions and complaints submitted to the committee shall be promptly forwarded to the rural municipality or city election committee.
(16.06.99 entered into force 23.06.99 - RT I 1999, 54, 581)
(10) Verification of voting results shall be public.
