27 int'l organizations to observe elections in Azerbaijan
By Aynur Karimova
Mazahir Panahov, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan, has revealed the number of international observers who will monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, scheduled for November 1.
He said at a commission meeting on October 20 that some 318 observers from 27 international organizations were registered with the CEC to monitor the elections.
Panahov also noted that over 50,000 people appealed to the district electoral commissions to observe the parliamentary elections as well.
CEC Deputy Chairman Natig Mammadov, in turn, revealed the names of the organizations that have appealed to the commission for conducting exit polling.
“One of the organizations, which applied to the CEC for conducting exit polling, is ELS independent research center,” he said. "Another organization that appealed for holding an exit poll is the Azerbaijani youth’s rights protection center."
A third organization is the League for Protection of Citizens' Rights.
All three organizations were registered by the CEC.
More than 70 CIS observers to monitor election
As the long-awaited November 1 parliamentary elections approach, the number of observers who will monitor the election process, are increasing.
Yevgeny Sloboda, the head of the CIS observer mission staff in Baku, told Trend on October 20 that over 70 observers from the CIS will observe the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan.
He said that preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are being held systematically.
"One can feel a high degree of training of the employees of the Central Election Commission, representatives of the office of the president, divisional election committees, as well as all those who take part in organizational work," Sloboda noted.
Preparations for the upcoming elections are in full swing. Campaigning kicked off on October 9 and will last until 8:00 a.m. October 31, exactly 23 days before voting as required by law.
In accordance with the schedule approved by the CEC, campaigning can be carried out by registered candidates, their authorized representatives and agents, political parties or political party blocs, and their authorized representatives and agents.
This year about 8 candidates will compete for one seat in the 125-seat Azerbaijani Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the country.
The printing house of the Azerbaijani Parliament has already begun printing some of the 5,344,431 total election ballot papers needed for the 125 election constituencies.
The ballots will first be delivered to the election commissions of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and then to the election constituencies of the mountainous areas of Azerbaijan. Sumgayit, Absheron and Baku will be the last points for distribution.
In accordance with the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan, the process of printing ballot papers will be completed 10 days before voting day.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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