Valid and Invalid Vote

(1) Upon determination of the voting results, each ballot paper shall correspond to one vote, which may be either valid or invalid.

(2) A vote shall be valid where: 1. the ballot paper conforms to the established standard design for the respective election region; 2. any special symbols such as letters, numbers or other signs are not written in the ballot paper;

3. the ballot paper contains two seals of the competent section election commission, and

4. only one of the voting squares for voting for party, coalition or independent candidate is marked with an "X" or "V" placed by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, for one candidate list, without preference for a candidate of the list of a party or coalition for which is the vote of the voter;

5. only one of the voting squares for voting for a party or coalition is marked with an "X" or "V" placed by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, for one candidate list, with more than one preference, marked with an "X" or "V" by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, for candidates from the same candidate list - it shall be assumed that the ballot paper does not contain preferences and the vote shall be considered cast for the selected candidate list;

6. only one of the voting squares is marked with an "X" or "V" placed by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, for one candidate list, with one preference, marked with an "X" or "V" placed by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, for a candidate from the selected candidate list;

7. The sign "X" or "V" placed by the voter by a ballpoint pen, writing in blue ink, goes beyond
the square of the respective candidate list, but does not run into the square of another candidate list;

8. there are deviations in the ballot paper due to defects and manufacturing errors, or where the ballot paper is mechanically damaged or stained;

9. (new - SG 39/16, in force from 26.05.2016) the "X" or "V" sign is placed by blue pen in the " I do not support anyone" box on the ballot paper

(3) A vote shall be invalid where:

1. the ballot paper does not conform to the established standard design for the respective election region;

2. any special symbols such as letters, numbers or other signs, are written on the ballot paper;

3. the ballot paper does not contain two stamps placed by the seal of the respective section election commission;

4. none of the voting squares is marked with an "X" or "V" by means of a ballpoint pen writing in blue ink the voter’s vote;

5. the ballot paper does not reflect the vote of the voter;

6. The sign "X" or "V" or another sign is placed by a ballpoint pen writing in blue or a another colour ink, 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;

7. the preferences are marked in the ballot paper with a sign different from "X" or "V" and by a ballpoint pen not writing in blue ink;

(4) (Amend. – SG 35/14, in force from 22.04.2014) The voter shall be entitled to one preference of a candidate from the chosen candidate list of a political party or coalition of parties. The preference shall be respected only if marked by sign "X" or "V" by a ballpoint pen writing in blue ink as well as when the sign "X" or "V" is running out of the outlines of the small circle to the name of the candidate without touching the other small circles.

(5) (Amend. - SG 39/16, in force from 26.05.2016) Where the voter has not noted preference for a candidate in the chosen by him candidate list, a preference shall be counted for the candidate, indicated at the first place in the list.

(6) (Suppl. - SG 104/22) The number of voters who have voted with paper ballots and machine voting ballots shall be equal to the number of ballots found in the ballot boxes.