Ascertaining of voting results in voting district committee

(1) A voting district committee shall open the ballot boxes after the close of voting. More than one-half of the members of the voting district committee shall be present at the opening. [RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]

(2) Before the ballot boxes are opened, the voting district committee shall count and cancel all ballot papers that were not issued to voters and all spoiled ballot papers returned by voters. Ballot papers shall be cancelled by cutting off a corner of the ballot paper.

(3) Before the ballot boxes are opened, the voting district committee shall ascertain, on the basis of the list of voters, the number of voters, and, on the basis of the signatures given in receipt of a ballot paper and notations made, the preliminary number of those who participated in the voting, and immediately forward these to the State Electoral Office. Notations concerning voters who voted in the advance voting outside the voting district of their residence, using electronic means or at home made in the list of voters shall be considered. The number of voters shall be entered in a standard format record. [RT I, 06.05.2016, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2017]

(4) When a ballot box is opened, the condition of the impression of the seal on the box shall be inspected.

(5) An impression of the seal of the voting district committee shall be put on the outside of ballot papers of home voters, and the ballot papers shall be placed among the ballot papers of voters who voted at the polling place.

(6) An impression of the seal of the voting district committee shall be put on the outside of ballot papers of voters who voted outside the voting district of their residence, and these ballot papers shall be placed together with the ballot papers of persons who voted at the advance voting among the ballot papers of persons who voted on election day. [RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]

(7) The voting district committee shall verify the number of ballot papers extracted from the ballot boxes, including the number of invalid ballot papers and the number of votes cast for candidates and political parties, and shall enter these numbers in a standard format record. [RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]

(8) A ballot paper shall be deemed to be invalid if: 1) it does not bear two impressions of the seal of the voting district committee, 2) no candidate registration number or more than one candidate registration number has been written on the ballot paper, 3) the candidate whose number is written on the ballot paper is not standing in the electoral district, 4) the candidate registration number written on the ballot paper has been corrected, or 5) the candidate registration number written on the ballot paper is illegible.

(9) If no candidate registration number has been written on a ballot paper but the will of the voter is clear and unambiguous, the ballot paper is deemed to be valid. (10) A standard format record shall be prepared concerning the ascertaining of the voting results. The chairman of the committee shall sign the record. The date and time of preparation of the record shall be indicated in the record.

(11) After ascertaining of the voting results, valid ballot papers shall be packed by candidate. Invalid ballot papers, ballot papers which were not issued to voters and spoiled ballot papers returned by voters shall be packed separately. The voting district from which the ballot papers originate and the type and number of ballot papers in the packet shall be noted on each packet. The chairman of the voting district committee shall sign the notation.

(12) Ballot papers, lists of voters and records concerning voting results shall be promptly forwarded to the county head of elections. [RT I, 06.05.2016, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2017]

(13) Voting results shall be ascertained publicly in a voting district committee.