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Article 65
 

Commencement of and procedure for voting


1. On the voting day, at 8:00, the chairperson of the precinct electoral commission shall announce the commencement of voting and authorise the entry of electors into the voting room.


2. The chairperson of the commission shall arrange and supervise the holding of the voting, support members exercising functions, when necessary, substitute them and the specialist in case of their temporary absence. Upon the assignment of the chairperson of the commission, the secretary of the commission shall make entries in the registration book, support the members exercising functions, substitute them and the specialist in case of their temporary absence. Upon the assignment of the chairperson of the commission, the commission member not exercising any function at that moment shall substitute the specialist in case of temporary absence thereof.


3. It shall be prohibited to enter a polling station with arms and ammunition.


4. Military servants, officers serving in national security and police troops shall not enter the polling station in a marching order and with arms and ammunition. In cases where the smooth voting process is under threat, only police officers, authorised by the chairperson of the precinct electoral commission, may enter the polling station with arms.


5. Where the number of electors present in the voting room is such that it obviously hinders the smooth voting process, the chairperson of the electoral commission shall have the right to limit the total number of electors present in the voting room at the same time — but no less than 15 electors — admitting electors to the voting room in turns, one by one. In case of impossibility to ensure implementation of this part by the electoral commission, it shall be ensured with the support of the police, upon request of the chairperson of the electoral commission.


6. One journalist and one photographer or one videotape operator representing each mass media shall have the right to be present in the voting room at the same time. Up to 2 observers from each international organisation accompanied by an interpreter may be present at the sittings of the electoral commission and, during the voting, also in the polling station (in the voting room), whereas in case of local observers — 1 observer from each organisation.


7. Where the number of observers, mass media representatives present in the voting room is such that it obviously hinders the smooth voting process, the precinct electoral commission shall be entitled to prescribe the maximum number of observers and mass media representatives having the right to be present in the voting room at the same time, upon a decision adopted by at least 2/3 of the votes of the total number of members of the commission. The decision must be in line with the principle of proportionality, but in any case the number prescribed by that decision may not be less than 15. This limitation shall not extend to visitors, international observers and representatives of television and radio companies carrying out terrestrial on-air broadcasting. In case of impossibility to ensure the execution of this part by the electoral commission, it shall be ensured with the support of the police, upon request of the chairperson of the electoral commission.


8. The Central Electoral Commission shall be obliged to create additional opportunities for the purpose of providing electors, facing difficulties with participation in the voting process, with access to voting, ensuring the opportunity for the free expression of will of the voter and secrecy of voting.