Location and preparation of the Ballot Counting Centres

(word amended in point 1 by Law No. 74/2012, dated 19 July 2012 and point 2 amended by Law No. 31/2015, dated 2 April 2015)

1. No later than 60 days prior to the election date, the prefect of the region shall submit to the CEC a complete list of buildings within the territory of the region that meet the criteria specified in points 1 and 2 of Article 93 and of this Article. No later than 40 days from the election date, the CEC shall designate the Ballot Counting Centre by decision. In designating the Ballot Counting Centre, the CEC may select the municipality that is the centre of the region even if it is located outside the territorial jurisdiction of the EAZ, or a municipality within the territory of the EAZ, or even the largest administrative unit, if the municipalities do not meet the criteria specified in Article 93 and in this Article. In selecting the location of the BCC, the CEC shall give priority to the logistical facilitations related to road transportation, distance from the voting centres, and the space of the potential premises. As a rule, the Ballot Counting Centre shall not change from one election to another.

The BCC shall be designated in large rooms or in gymnasiums. The Ballot Counting Centres shall be made available to CEAZs no later than 10 days prior to the election date. The CEAZ, no later than 5 days before the election date, shall invite the electoral subjects and VCC members to get to know the Ballot Counting Centre. In selecting the location, the CEC must also take into consideration the possibility of applying the supporting technology for counting the votes, in accordance with point 4 of this Article.

2. Before introducing the Ballot Counting Centre to the relevant electoral subjects and respective VCCs, the CEC shall prepare the necessary logistical infrastructure for the counting centre, including uninterrupted lighting for the beginning and successful execution of the vote counting process according to a model of arrangement approved by the CEC and the relevant CEC instructions. For this purpose, the CEC shall arrange working tables for each counting team, ensuring they have sufficient space for conducting the vote counting process. The working tables shall be arranged in such a way that they are visible for the CEAZ members and observers, candidates or media representatives, and that they allow for the application of the supporting technology in accordance with point 4 of this Article. Observers shall stay in front of the counting teams at a short distance from the working tables or, if the technology in accordance with point 4 of this Article is used, in front of the screens. Observers must not have physical contact with the voting materials. The working tables of the counting teams, as well as the seats of the CEAZ members, must be in the same room where the vote counting process takes place. A Ballot Counting Centre may not have fewer than 3 and more than 10 working tables. The organisational scheme of functioning and the number of counting tables for each Ballot Counting Centre shall be established by CEC normative act.

3. The logistical equipment necessary for the vote counting process shall be provided by the CEC in cooperation with other central or local bodies.

4. The CEC shall decide on the use of recording cameras and screens for displaying the ballot papers before their evaluation. High resolution cameras shall be installed above the counting table in such a way as to allow for the recording of the evaluation of each ballot paper. The recording shall be transmitted in real time on screens placed in front of the observers of electoral subjects. The recording of the process shall be stored electronically and delivered to the CEC together with other election materials. The CEC or, when it is possible, the CEAZ as well, must reproduce copies and make them available to electoral subjects against payment of a fee that covers the reproduction cost.