Segregation of the Ballot Papers

(1) After opening of the ballot box and extraction of the ballot papers for each type of elections the latter shall be segregated in piles as follows:

1. a pile of ballot papers which do not conform to the established standard design;
2. a pile of ballot papers with special symbols, such as letters, numbers or other signs, written therein for the election of municipal councillors and with preferences marked with a sign different from "X" or "V" and by a ballpoint pen not writing in blue ink;
3. a pile of ballot papers conforming to the established standard design wherein the vote of the voter is not marked by an "X" or "V: and by a ballpoint pen writing in blue ink;
4. a pile of ballot papers conforming to the established standard design wherein the vote of the voter is not marked;
5. a pile of ballot papers conforming to the established standard design:

a) wherein the sign "X" or "V" or another sign is placed by means of a ballpoint pen writing in blue or in another colour, for two or more candidate lists or by placed "X" or "V" that runs into more than one voting squares and the unequivocal choice of the voter could not be determined;
b) wherein the preferences for a candidate for a municipal councillor are marked in the ballot paper with a sign different from "X" or "V" and by means of a ballpoint pen not writing in blue ink or preferences of candidates from different candidate lists are marked;
c) wherein the vote is marked by an "X" or "V" or other sign by a ballpoint pen writing in blue ink or in another colour, for one candidate list and a preference for a candidate for a municipal councillor from another candidate list, or
d) which do not contain two stamps of the seal of the respective precinct election commission; any such ballot papers shall be cancelled by means of an inscription "Cancelled" on each ballot paper;

6. a pile of ballot papers conforming to the established standard design:

a) wherein the vote is marked with an "X" or "V" sign by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, for one candidate list of municipal councillors with no preference or with one or more than one preferences for a candidate for a municipal councillor from the same candidate list;
b) which contain an "X" or "V" placed by means of a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink for one candidate list for a mayor;
c) wherein the ballot paper contains two seals of the respective precinct election commission,

7. (new - SG 39/16, in force from 26.05.2016) a pile of ballot papers in the approved form:

a) having the vote marked with the "X" or "V" sign and by a blue-writing pen in the "I do not support anyone" box;
b) containing two stamps of the respective section election commission.

(2) The ballot papers shall be reviewed one by one to count the preferences, including under Art. 437, Para. 5, for the candidates for municipal councillors of the political parties and coalition of parties.
(3) Where the validity of any vote is contested, after a decision of the commission, the case shall be described in a memorandum. The said memorandum shall be attached to the tally sheet of the precinct election commission, and the number of the decision shall be noted on the reverse side of the ballot paper.