Actions performed after closing of the polls

(amended by Law No. 74/2012, dated 19 July 2012)

After making the decision to close the polls, the Chair, together with the members of the VCC, shall perform the following actions according to this order:

1. The Chair, under the observation of all members of the VCC, shall:

a) record the number of the voters who have voted, according to their signatures on the voter list, as well as on the special register, in accordance with Article 57 of this Code;

b) state the figure aloud to the other members of the VCC and the observers that are present;

c) invite them to verify the figure stated by him/her; and

ç) order the secretary of the VCC to record the number of persons who have voted in the voting centre, according to letter “a” of this point, in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and in the VCC Meeting Records Book. In case of an objection to the figure, the claims shall be written in the records. The VCC secretary shall write the claim in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and in the VCC Meeting Records Book.

2. The Chair, under the observation of all VCC members, shall reflect the full number of ballot papers of that voting centre in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and in the VCC Meeting Records Book, based on the data that have accompanied the receipt of the ballot papers from the CEAZ.

3. The Chair, under the observation of all members of the VCC, shall start the count of unused ballot papers and, at the end of the count, informs the members of the VCC of this number. When requested by a member of the VCC or any of the observers, the Chair shall be obliged to restart the count of unused ballot papers. Upon completion of the count, unused ballot papers shall be enclosed within the envelope marked as “UNUSED BALLOT PAPERS”. The number of unused ballot papers shall be reflected in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and in the VCC Meeting Records Book.

4. The Chair, under the observation of all members of the VCC, shall count the spoiled ballot papers that are found in the envelope for “SPOILED BALLOT PAPERS”. The number of spoiled ballot papers is reflected in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and the VCC Meeting Records Book.

If any of the observers has objections, they shall be recorded immediately in the Meeting Records Book or submitted by the observer in writing. The written objections shall be administered by the secretary and shall be enclosed inside the box of election materials together with the rest of the documentation for that voting centre.

5. Upon conclusion of the actions envisaged in points 1 to 4 of this Article, the following shall be enclosed inside in the box of election materials:

a) the envelope marked as “UNUSED BALLOT PAPERS”;

b) the envelope marked as “SPOILED BALLOT PAPERS”;

c) the voter list, including the special register, in accordance with Article 57 of this Code;

ç) the original of the VCC decisions and the unused templates of the VCC decisions;

d) the stamp of the VCC;

dh) the stamp of the VCC Chair;

e) seals with the unused security codes;

ë) seals with the damaged security codes; and

f) the VCC Meeting Records Book.

6. The numbers of the security codes to seal the ballot box and the election materials box shall be first written down in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and in the VCC Meeting Records Book. After all the data are recorded in the Record of the Closing of the Polls, the exact time of closing the records shall be noted. The original of the Records of the Closing of the Polls shall be placed in the ballot box which is sealed immediately with the last security code, whereas its copy shall be placed in the box with voting materials, which shall be then sealed with the respective security codes. Copies of the Records of the Closing of the Polls shall be given to members of the VCC and to observers of the parliamentary parties.

7. When the seal with the security codes is damaged during the closing of the ballot box, it shall be replaced by one of the spare seals. The number of the security code of the damaged seal shall be written down in the Records of the Closing of the Polls and in the VCC Meeting Records Book.

8. The Records of the Closing of the Polls shall be signed by all VCC members. If any of the VCC members has any remarks, they shall be written in the space dedicated to remarks in the official records.