Ballot Papers

99.1. At least 35 days prior to Voting Day, the Central Election Commission shall approve the rules and requirements for preparation of ballot papers, the text and format of election ballot papers (hereinafter – ballot paper), and the number to be produced.

99.2. Surnames of candidates shall appear in alphabetical order on the ballot paper.

99.3. 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.

99.4. Ballot papers shall be published on the basis of the decision of the Central Election Commission, under observation of its representatives in printing houses, at least 10 days prior to Voting Date. The number of prepared ballot papers may exceed the number of voters registered in the relevant election constituency by at most 3%.

99.5. The printing house shall ensure sorting of defective ballot papers from usable ones, and deliver the ballot papers to the authorized representative of the Central Election Commission in accordance to an act indicating the quantity of ballots, the date and time of issuance, and the ballots’ numbers. Having submitted ballot papers in accordance with the order, employees of the printing house shall destroy defective and extra ballot papers and prepare an act on thereon, signed by all participants. The members of the Central Election Commission and persons indicated in Articles 40.2 and 40.4 of this Code may oversee the execution of those actions. The Central Election Commission should give information to registered candidates and authorized representatives of political parties, blocs of political parties, and referendum campaign groups about the place and time of issuance of ballot papers.

99.6. After receipt of ballot papers from the printing house and at least 5 days prior to 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 on the number of ballot papers and the date and time of their issuance, and hand the ballot papers to the chairman. The Constituency Election Commission shall submit the ballot papers to Precinct Election Commissions in accordance with the established procedure, at least 3 days prior to Voting Day. The number of ballot papers given to Precinct Election Commissions may not be less than 90% or more than 0.5% of the number of voters included on the list of an election precinct on the day of submission of the ballot papers. Ballot papers shall be counted by the Precinct Election Commission and the number of received ballot papers shall be certified by a decision of the Precinct Election Commission. If the number of ballots to be issued does not coincide with of the number of issued ballots, then the Constituency Election Commission shall immediately be informed o the matter. The top right corner of the ballot papers shall be verified by the seal of a Precinct Election Commission.

99.7. Chairpersons of election commissions that submit, receive and protect ballot papers, shall bear responsibility for submission and storage of the ballot papers.

99.8. In exceptional cases, pursuant to Articles 35.4 and 35.6 of this Code, Precinct Election Commissions shall be allowed to produce election documents, including ballot papers, if technical facilities are available, in the ships sailing on Voting Day and in election precincts organized outside the Republic of Azerbaijan. A decision on the production of election documents, with an indication of the appropriate circulation, shall be made by a relevant Precinct Election Commission in agreement with the Central Election Commission.

99.9. After the end of voting time on Voting Day, all unused ballot papers in the Constituency Election Commission shall be cancelled and the Constituency Election Commission shall prepare an act on this fact. Persons indicated in Articles 40.2 and 40.4 may participate in the cancellation of the ballot papers. The secretary of the commission shall store the cancelled ballot papers together with other documents.

99.10. If some candidates are withdrawn or their registration is cancelled after the ballot papers are produced, then, pursuant to a decision of the Central Election Commission, the Constituency or Precinct Election Commissions shall place information on such candidates, political parties, or blocs of political parties, as well as information on the adding or amending of information regarding registered candidates, political parties or blocs of political parties in the printed ballot paper, on the notice board of the Precinct Election Commission.