REPORT OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

June, 2008

www.msk.gov.az
www.cec.gov.az
www.infocenter.gov.az

 

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Activity of Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) during June of 2008 was aimed to solve several problems in the field of elections.

Amendments and appendices made to Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan were discussed and adopted in the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan in May. CEC thoroughly investigates amendments and appendices made to Election Code and conducts works directed to reflect improvements in instructions and other documents according to legislation. CEC also plans some activities for the education of Constituency Election Commissions (Con.ECs) related to amendments and appendices.

Regarding the execution of Order by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “on the approval of National Activity Plan on the Protection of Human Rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan”, CEC conducted seminar-conference for the Con.EC chairmen on June 12, 2008. During the conference, steps put forward the elimination of the shortcomings revealed during the monitoring conducted with the aim of inspecting the activity of Con.ECs in 2006 and some impending duties were discussed. During the seminar-conference, Con.EC chairmen reported on their activities. International (foreign) organizations and representatives of mass media functioning in Azerbaijan were also invited to the activity.

According to Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, specification of voters’ lists on the republic was ended in May, these voters’ lists were checked through current information base belonging to the Ministry for Interior Affairs and the deficiencies allowed in the information of some voters were removed. The process is still being maintained. Moreover, hot lines of CEC also continue their function and relevant activities are taken through the operative consideration of the received appeals (115 or electron hot line on the web-page).

Since 2003, information on the Con.ECs has been located on the CEC web page. During last year, amendments were made to the addresses of the Con.ECs at the result of settling them in new administrative buildings, so that CEC renewed this information on the web page. On the CEC web page, composition of the Con.EC and PECs, their addresses (scheme maps in cities and information about the public transportation means moving in this direction), territories (boundaries) of the constituencies, voters’ lists and some other statistical data was located. Moreover, in order to ensure transparency, CEC decisions, press releases and other necessary documents are available from the web pages.

Specified last version of the voters’ lists was also posted on the CEC web page and voters are ensured to prove their information via search system of voters. Wide-range propaganda program is conducted with the aim of educating voters relating to web page and search system. So, TV clip reflecting the information on the web page and inviting voters to check their information in the voters’ lists through web pages was prepared by CEC and was presented to TV channels functioning within the republic for broadcasting. Furthermore, CEC published campaign posters on the subject of “Do not forget to check your names in the voters’ lists” and “Web page of CEC” in addition to the information campaign related to the voters’ lists, submitted them to the Con.ECs and recommended to hang them in  densely settled areas.

According to Article 35.3.1 of Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the number of the voters on the precincts should not exceed 1500. Increase dynamics of the voters in Azerbaijan led to raise this number in some precincts. In order to solve this issue, CEC puts forward necessary steps and investigates possibilities to add the voters exceeding the relevant number to other appropriate precincts located within these municipalities.

CEC attaches great importance to the cooperation with international (foreign) organizations and often holds meetings with the representatives of international publicity in different levels in the field of cooperation. During June, CEC Chairman met with the delegation headed by Mr. Peter Semneby, special representative on South Caucasus of the European Union, delegation of OSCE/ODIHR, Ambassador of the USA to Azerbaijan and representatives of other international organizations. During meetings, guests were thoroughly informed about the activity of the CEC and some issues causing mutual interests were discussed.

CEC continued its cooperation with mass media during  June and regularly informed publicity of the country about the activity of the Commission. Before the seminar-conference conducted for the Con.EC chairmen on June 12, 2008, CEC Chairman replied to the questions of the representatives of mass media. CEC representative participated in round table organized in Public TV on June 11, 2008. Moreover, CEC officials gave interviews to the TV channels functioning in the republic, press releases were disseminated by the commission, nearly 50 interviews, elucidations and informational materials provided by CEC representatives were published in press.

By using all these above-mentioned means, CEC attempted to clarify the issues interesting the publicity of the country and put forward the steps in the direction of educating the voters about elections.