REPORT OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

July, 2008

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

 

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By considering the conduct of next Presidential Elections in October of 2008, Central Election Commission has been further increasing its activity as elections approach. During the last July, CEC implemented many projects.Education of the persons participating in elections is one of the fields of great importance to the CEC. For close familiarization with the requirements of Election Code by the participants in electoral process, many projects have been implemented and at the present the activities are being continued. Cooperation is realized with international organizations in this field. One of these projects was sessions on the topic “Interference in electoral process” conducted by the CEC jointly with Executive Apparatus of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and OSCE Baku office. In the framework of the projects, 4 sessions were considered to be conducted during July so that two of them were implemented in Baku (July 9-10, 2008), one in Ganja (July 11, 2008) and one in Shirvan was conducted (July 14, 2008). At the activity, representatives of Presidential Executive Apparatus, OSCE Baku office, international experts, heads of executive authorities in the regions of the republic and chairmen of Constituency Election Commissions. The goal of the activity was requirements of Election Code and other relevant legislation, specially, provisions on interference in elections, as well as roles and duties of local executive authorities and lower election commissions. During sessions many issues were clarified and prohibition of illegal interference in electoral process was discussed. Furthermore, during the activity they made speeches for the participants on the persons participating in electoral process, international election standards. Since 2003 one of the education projects by CEC has been the conduct of trainings held for Precinct Election Commissions. This year the project has been increased further and it was offered to conduct trainings in a new format. So, trainings were conducted by the group consisting of 15 trainers of the CEC in previous elections. Since this year, secretariats of Constituency Election Commissions were established so that it caused the possibility of training specialists acting in these secretariats and later the conduct of trainings by themselves for lower election commissions. In this aim, two specialists from each constituency were assigned and were on official trip to Baku in order to participate in trainings by trainers. CEC has cooperated with Venice Commission of European Council in the preparation of trainings for several years. Training of trainers this year was also conducted under the cooperation with Venice Commission. Since July 15 till July 18 training of trainers was conducted in Baku. At the activity conducted in two groups each of them consisting of 125 persons, experts of Venice Commission and specialized trainers of the CEC made reports for the participants on the roles and duties of Precinct Election Commissions on the Election Day, transparency in the activity of commissions, election day procedures, determination of voting results and rules for arranging trainings, later concrete procedures during practical courses in the form of small groups were explained about. At the end of trainings, the participants replied to test questions about election procedures.
CEC continues its education programs for the secretariats of Constituency Election Commissions that began to function since January of 2008 to be able to professionally cope with their works in all spheres. In the aim of performing clerical works that are a part of the Con.EC activity pursuant to relevant rules, trainings were organized for the Con.EC officials responsible to this sphere since July 22 up to July 24. During the training, the participants were comprehensively informed about the provisions of Instruction “on the conduct of clerical works in state authorities, offices, organizations and institutes”, decisions of election commissions and compliance of session minutes and document samples used in practice were displayed. At the end of the training, practical courses were conducted for the participants to follow procedures closely and the questions interesting to the Con.EC representatives were replied. Trainings aimed to increase professionalism in the field of conducting clerical works.
Another training implemented by the CEC was meant for computer specialists acting at the Con.EC secretariats. During trainings conducted in small groups since July 1 up to July 25, specialists were informed on the Automated Information System, current information conveyance network, program software used related to elections and many other issues, it was examined via practical courses how they comprehended this information.
CEC investigates supply of the Con.EC related to the preparation of the forthcoming Presidential Elections and puts steps forward the elimination of shortcomings. According to the applies on supply, needs were considered related to portable and importable ballot boxes of some Con.ECs, ultraviolet lamps for checking voters’ fingers and other equipment and relevant activities were taken. In the direction of solving providence of Con.ECs with necessary technical equipment, works have being conducted. It should be noted as well that the computers provided to the Con.ECs were installed with necessary information conveyance programs, too and are ready to be used.
As Presidential Elections approach, CEC more often conducts sessions. During July Commission conducted three sessions. During session dated on July 28, 2008 the Commission declared the conduct of Presidential Elections on October 15, 2008. As well as, in July CEC approved 20 instructions, rules, comments on the nomination of candidacy to presidency in Presidential Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan, checking the accuracy of the information included in signature sheets, as well as in the documents submitted by candidates, status of agents in elections (referendum), status of the authorized representatives of the candidate and political parties, rules for conducting local observation, rules for activity of international (foreign) observers, rules for conducting pre-election campaign in mass media and Press Group under Commission on control upon it and many other election issues, as well as Calendar Plan for basic activities and measures on the preparation and conduct of the forthcoming Presidential elections. According to the tradition formed since 2000, representatives of international (foreign) organizations and mass media were also invited to the sessions and they participated. Specification of voters’ lists was continued during July, too, Con.EC regularly obtained information on the shift of voters’ places from relevant organizations and CEC was informed on this. Hot lines of the CEC received 1275 applies during this month as in previous months. Hot line # 115 functioning related to only voters’ lists till July became general hot line for elections and was automated via intellectual platform. Works implemented in this direction have been continued.Works on the supply of Con.ECs with legal-methodical means were conducted incessantly. So, Election Code and instructions, rules, comments adopted by the CEC were published in two volumes as booklets and distributed one-by one to each Con.EC and PEC member. At the present, guidelines are prepared in the aim of education for members of lower election commissions, observers, agents of candidates and other participants of election process. CEC activity was wholly open to mass media during July, too and country people were regularly informed on the activity of the Commission. CEC Chairman conducts regular briefings for mass media. During July Chairman conducted 4 briefings, during these briefings he informed media representatives on the activity of the CEC and replied to the questions interesting to them. During July CEC representatives gave nearly 20 interviews on different topics for TV channels and published more than 40 interviews, explanations and informational materials in mass media. Furthermore, mass media representatives participated in all activities and sessions conducted during the month and press releases on these activities were disseminated. Cooperation with mass media in informing country people on Presidential Elections on October 15, 2008 is one of the issues of great interest to the CEC.As before, in July observations and analysis related to changing the number of voters on constituencies and precincts were also conducted. Article 35.3.1 of Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan implies the number of voters on the precinct not to exceed 1500. CEC keeps  the number of the voters under attention. In July the number of voters in precincts was followed and when this number exceeded the required number limit, then changes were made within the borders of the precinct or new precinct was established by putting relevant steps. Relevant information on this is posted on web page of Commission and has been renewed regularly.All documents on elections are located on the CEC web page. Besides election documents, on the web page information on the composition, activity of CEC, structure of CEC Secretariat, Election Code, monthly reports, adopted decisions, instructions, rules, comments, information on previous elections, composition and addresses of Con.ECs, PECs (information on scheme maps in cities and public transportation means moving in this direction), areas covered by constituencies(constituency borders), several statistical indicators, voters’ lists, information for press and some other materials were also located. The above-mentioned information is renewed regularly and made relevant amendments to.
By using all these mentioned means, CEC tried to clarify the questions interesting to country people and put steps in the education of voters related to elections.