(1) The ballots shall be unsealed Immediately before the opening of the polls.

(2) Candidates, election agents and representatives of parties, coalitions and nomination committees according to Article 117 (6) and Article 124 (1) herein, observers (complying with the requirement of Article 114 (2) herein), members of the mass communication media and voters may be present in the polling sites upon the opening of the polls.

(3) The chairperson of the section election commission shall verify the availability of the election stationery and materials covered under Article 215 (1) herein and shall check whether the ballot box is serviceable and whether the said box is empty. After the check, the box shall be closed and sealed with paper tapes signed by the members of the commission who are present, and shall be stamped with the seal of the commission.

(4) Upon the opening of the polls, the chairperson of the section election commission and a member of the commission designated with a decision of the commission shall mark in a unique manner the seal of the section election commission used to stamp the election stationery. A memorandum signed by the members of the commission shall be drawn up on the marking, and the said memorandum shall contain at least three impressions of the marked seal.

(5) After the steps referred to in Paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) are performed, the chairperson of the section election commission shall declare the polls open.