Considering the termination of the legally-defined term of authority of the municipalities formed after the elections held on December 23, 2014, the issue on the appointment of the Municipal elections was discussed at the session of the Central Election Commission (CEC) on October 18, 2019 and by the Commission decision # 7/24, the next Municipal elections was decided to be held on December 23, 2019. After the elections have been appointed, the "Calendar Plan for the basic activities and measures on the preparation and conduct of the Municipal elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan” was approved and all the projects and steps for the preparation and conduct of the elections were implemented in accordance with the Calendar Plan. CEC Expert Group of 9 persons to investigate the appeals filed against the actions (inactions) and decisions violating citizens’ election right, as well as Working Group of experts from the specialist of the relevant state bodies to check the accuracy of the information included in signature sheets and attachment documents submitted for the registration of candidacy in the Municipal elections were established at the session.

Taking into account that 2019 was the year of Municipal elections, the Commission started to implement many projects and necessary measures since the beginning of the year to hold free and transparent elections which should result in the election of 15156 members to 1606 current municipalities in the country.

Important stages of the election process - the update of voters’ list, improvement of legal framework, awareness-raising of all election stakeholders including voters and members of lower election commissions, nomination and registration of candidates to municipality membership, ensuring atmosphere of free activity for observers and mass media representatives, and all other duties implied in the Election Code were focused on very accurately. The activities and measures undertaken for the high-level preparation and conduct of the elections freely, fairly and transparently could be categorized as follows:

Update of voters’ lists

Considering importance as a document in the conduct of elections, the first essential step was put for the update of voters’ lists. Thus, the update of single voters’ list on the country started since the beginning of January 2019 as in comply with the election legislation. Firstly, members of the Precinct Election Commissions had updated the voters’ lists of the relevant precincts. Afterwards the information was transmitted to Constituency Election Commissions (Con.ECs), which in their turn checked the voters’ lists submitted by Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) and reviewed statistical data presented by the relevant bodies (local Registration and ID cards Department, State Registration Department of Citizenship Acts and other organizations dealing with the citizens’ register). In the next stage CEC checked the encountered repetitions and inaccurateness via special software for qualitative and quantitative analyse of voters’ data upon collecting the electorate database, thereby submitted an accurate version of the voters’ lists to Con.ECs. A copy of the last version of the voters’ lists updated during that period was kept at Con.ECs and another copy at the CEC, meanwhile, the updated last version was also available on the CEC website. Pursuant to the Election Code, the update process of voters’ lists was also being carried out after the official start of the preparation for the elections and it was finalized 25 days prior to the E-Day.

It should be noted that this broad and large-scale process involving more than thirty thousand members of lower election commissions was implemented in close and intensive cooperation with relevant bodies. The interest and active engagement of the voters in the update of voter lists, broadcasting of video and audio clips calling to check voters’ entries in TV and radio channels, prepared by CEC throughout the update process, as well as, the CEC hotline # 115 and online service of the website had further increased the efficiency of the activities implemented. To the point, CEC replied and put all necessary steps regarding all the appeals entered the hotline # 115 and electronic hotlines on election issues including voter lists. The received appeals mainly concerned the checking of voters’ entries in the voter lists, making corrections if necessary, legal and technical issues and other similar affairs. Like previous years, the voter lists of the current year was compiled accurately and efficiently as a result of large-scale and broad process implemented in the cooperation between election commissions and relevant bodies.

After the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on making amendments to the "List of municipalities in the Republic of Azerbaijan”, attached to the Law "On the territories and areas of Municipalities” on February 12, 216, the number of municipalities within the country was defined to be 1606. Relevant executive authorities provided CEC with the updated information on the municipalities officially due to the changes emerged as a result of the implementation of the Law. Meanwhile, the information on the current municipalities within every election constituency, number of members to be elected to municipalities in accordance with the population number, dislocation of election precincts and number of voters on the polling stations and the structures of PECs were also updated and publicized.

CEC carried out decisive activities for the compatibility of the voters’ number on some constituencies and precincts with the representation norm, thereby providing effective conditions to implement the rights of voters and other election actors. 3 new polling stations on 2 election constituencies were established in comply with the requirements of the Election Code which stipulated the necessity of providing better opportunities for voters, effectiveness of local and other conditions, prevention of offending the boundaries of election constituencies and conformity of voters’ number with the defined norms.

The election legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan defines and regulates the rules for foreigners’ participation in elections. So, pursuant to the Instruction "On the participation of stateless persons and foreigners in elections (referendum)”, approved by CEC in compliance with the Election Code, the foreigners living in the territory of Azerbaijan who reach 18 on the E-Day (including that day) and live within the relevant municipality for not less than 5 years up to the conduct of the Municipal elections can participate in the voting, providing that the similar rights of foreigners in in the Municipal elections are the same in their countries of citizenship.

Pursuant to the Election Code, relevant measures were undertaken to create necessary conditions for 3 648 foreigners with voting right (citizens of 9 foreign countries) to vote in 1 108 polling stations on 116 election constituencies in the 2019 Municipal elections of Azerbaijan.

Apart from other different current issues related to elections, the rules for foreigners’ participation in the Municipal elections were also discussed and members of lower election commissions informed thoroughly on the opportunities of implementing foreigners’ voting rights and the related provisions of the election legislation at the events within the CEC educational program for lower election commissions.

Preparation of lower election commissions for the Municipal elections

In the light of preparations for the 2019 Municipal elections, CEC held appropriate monitoring 6 months before the start of the elections, in regard with the activity and equipment of Con.ECs and PECs and undertook relevant measures to improve further the working conditions and equipping of lower election commissions. Thus, lower election commissions were provided with necessary print materials, visual aids, ballot boxes, invisible ink bottles, ultraviolet lamps and spare batteries, voting booths, disposable security locks, special bags for protocols, sacks to carry documents, office materials and other necessary means and they were brought ready for the E-Day.

One of the improvements in the Municipal elections was the voting with the new generation ID cards. Thus, some information in the new generation ID cards issued to citizens from the beginnings of 2018 in Azerbaijan, required to be checked while voting as defined in the law, is not visually recorded, but located in electronic information carrier chips on the card. Having investigated the foregoing issue, CEC equipped the Con.ECs and PECs with chip-readers provided with special programs to read the relevant data of voters. Therewith, a video clip containing relevant information was prepared and broadcasted via different means to raise awareness on the practical skills of lower election commission members while using this equipment and booklets were published and delivered to the commission members. On E-Day, the data of the voters with new generation ID cards was checked by the equipment while voting as required in the legislation and their voting was ensured.

It should be noted that educational-monitoring activities are regularly held at lower election commissions, the results of annually implemented monitoring are analysed thoroughly and necessary projects are carried out.

Improvement of legal framework

Legal framework plays an important role in the conduct of the elections freely and fairly, as well as, in the awareness-raising of election stakeholders and improvement of their activity. CEC compiled 48 normative documents including instructions, comments and rules to raise awareness of lower election commission members, also other election stakeholders, to implement the legislation provisions professionally and to increase their skills on the election process. The documents targeted at subsequent, effective and efficient implementation of many different procedures implied in the election legislation, rendering methodical assistance to the participants of the election process, thereby top-level preparation and conduct of the elections, were adopted at the Commission sessions upon the consideration and broad discussion by the CEC members, they were printed in 16 collections for the availability by the interested subjects and also posted in Azerbaijani and English languages on the CEC official webpage.

Expansion of cooperation with foreign organizations

The expansion of mutual relationship with international organizations and supreme election management institutions of foreign countries, study of the election legislation of foreign countries and international experience and conduct of mutual exchange of experience have always been priority to the CEC. Focusing on these priorities within the frame of annually expanded international partnership, the Commission has built its activity in atmosphere of close cooperation with international and foreign organizations, within the frame of this relationship periodical meetings are held, mutual visits are arranged and possible perspectives of partnership regarding elections are discussed.

Notwithstanding the local importance, during the Municipal Elections, CEC also continued foreign relationship. Meetings were held with chairpersons of Georgia and Ukraine CEC, as well as, the delegations of the supreme election management bodies from Moldova, Romania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Lithuania that had visited to monitor the elections.

Improvement of training lower election commissions

Considering that 2019 was a year to conduct Municipal Elections, CEC had held timely monitoring to study the technical and financial provision of Con.ECs and PECs in regard with the election preparations and put required steps for improving the working conditions of lower election commissions and providing them with necessary equipment. Thus, all of the lower election commissions were brought ready for the E-Day upon being provided with necessary print materials, visual aids, ballot boxes for voting, invisible ink bottles, ultraviolet lamps and spare batteries, voting booths, disposable security locks, special bags to keep protocols, sacks to transfer documents, office materials, special chip readers for new generation ID cards and other needed equipment.

It is worth noting that the educational and monitoring activities of lower election commissions are held regularly and necessary projects are carried out upon analysing the results of the monitoring held annually.

Educational activities of different scope

Professional Courses on election right

Awareness-raising has always been one of the priority issues to the CEC during the Municipal Elections. The first event on elections was held to raise awareness of Con.EC and PEC members as in compliance with the Order of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the approval of National Activity Program to increase the efficiency of protecting human rights and freedoms in the Republic of Azerbaijan”, dated December 27, 2011 and to this end, a broad project was carried out in 2 stages. In the first stage of the project, a seminar was conducted for the Con.EC chairpersons at the administrative building of CEC on October 11, 2019. During the event along with the CEC members, the officials of many state bodies - the incumbents of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Milli Majlis, Office of Prosecutor General, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Baku Appeal Court made lectures on various issues for the Con.EC chairpersons. The training program included topics on duties of local executive authorities in the process of preparing and conducting elections and their bilateral activity with election commissions, effect of re-organization practice of municipalities upon their activity and Municipal elections, role of prosecutor’s offices in the protection of election right, role of the institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the election process, effect of the quality of municipality activity on re-election of municipality members, judicial protection of election right, election experience and international partnership and meanwhile, during the trainings, elections conducted in previous years and the "learned subjects” were reviewed. The participants addressed their questions to the speakers and obtained necessary information.

In the second stage of the project, professional courses on election right were conducted in regions for the members of Con.ECs and PEC chairpersons on 15-17 October, 2019. CEC representatives, Con.EC chairpersons, incumbent officials of local executive authorities of regions, courts, attorney offices and police departments made presentations and lectures during the courses aiming at developing professional skills of the members of lower election commissions. In general, professional courses on election right embodied more than 6000 election officials and the members of lower election commissions acquired detailed information on the election process. The courses attended by the invited representatives of international (foreign) organizations was broadcasted and reported to the publicity by mass media.

Activities to strengthen the procedures for candidate registration

The next educational event was dedicated to the candidate registration procedures. During the seminars held in Baku for two days from October 24, 2019 the presentations by the CEC members and Secretariat officials were heard regarding the topics on legal requirements for candidate registration, as well as, nomination and registration procedures in the Municipal elections, the presentations contained detailed information on the topics using visual aids and the questions interesting to the participants were replied to. Every participant was submitted a guidebook for candidates to municipality membership, compiled by CEC at the event. The activities broadly broadcasted by the mass media were attended by nearly, 250 officials of lower election commissions including the heads of the working groups established within the Con.ECs to check the accuracy of the information included in signature sheets and the attachment documents for the registration of the candidacy of two representatives – a chairman and candidate to membership from each election constituency where the election was held.

Seminars for Expert Group members

Within the frame of CEC educational program, regional seminars dedicated to the investigation of the appeals on the violation of the election right were held in Ganja on October 29, 2019, in Shaki on October 31, in Masalli on November 2, in Baku on November 4, focusing on ensuring more effective remedy of the citizens’ election right. The basic goal of the regional seminars was increasing the awareness and improving further the professional skills of the Expert Group members functioning within the Con.ECs. At the seminars the issues encountered in the appeals of those who claimed on the violation of the election right, features of appeals and complaints, sequence of the activities to be implemented by the Expert Group members, adoption and compilation of decisions, as well as, other important affairs were clarified thoroughly.

During the events the CEC representatives informed the participants thoroughly on the legal requirements and the issues on the violation of the election law, as implied in the Election Code, the persons entitled to file complaints, theme, format and subject of the complaint, the timeframe for filing complaints on the violation of the election right, as well as the following procedures after the receive of an appeal or complaint. At the end of all the seminars in regions, the issues encountered in the appeals with claims on the violation of the election right, types of appeals and complaints, sequence of the activities to be implemented by the Expert Group members, adoption and compilation of decisions, as well as, other important affairs were clarified thoroughly through visual aids and the adoption of decisions on those complaints by the appropriate election commissions was discussed. Regional seminars dedicated to the investigation of the appeals on the violation of the election right covered all the members of Expert Groups of 3 persons, established at Con.ECs where the Municipal elections are held as in compliance with the legislation.

Seminar-conferences on election dispute resolution

Regional seminars dedicated to jurisdiction of election disputes were held for the first time within the frame of the CEC educational program. Considering the importance of the project in improvement of the election practice, the first seminar-conference held in Baku on November 12 started with the introductory speech of the CEC Chairman and later collegial chair of the Supreme Court, as well as, chairs of Baku and Sumgayit Courts of Appeal made speech at the event. During the following stage, the seminar-conferences held in Ganja, Nakhchivan, Shaki and Shirvan from November 13 to 19 were targeted at increasing the awareness of Con.ECs on the election dispute resolution, strengthening the effectiveness of the works undertaken to this aim and ensuring citizens’ election rights more effectively. At the seminars presentations and speeches made by the representatives of CEC, Supreme Court and regional courts of appeal, dedicated to "Filing appeals or complaints by citizens, regarding the violation of the election right and the rules for investigating these appeals”, "Experience of courts in the application of the legislation on the election right remedy” and "Implementation on the cases of election right remedy” were heard. The seminar-conferences on election dispute resolution covered all the Con.ECs where the Municipal elections were held.

Trainings for members of lower election commissions

Increasing the professionalism level of lower election commission members was also one of the priority issues in the Municipal elections. The main project carried out in this field was traditional trainings that covered more than 30 000 members of lower election commissions. It is worth noting that the training project founded in 2002 within the cooperation with different international organizations, which has been improved annually since 2008 plays an important role in increasing skills and professionalism of Con.EC and PEC members in all elections.

Nearly, a month prior to the elections CEC started training project in two stages for the awareness-raising of lower election commissions. Within the first stage "Training for Trainers” was held by the CEC Training Group in Baku November 20-23. During the trainings in general, 250 local trainers of the Con.ECs - two representatives from each of the election constituencies obtained clear and detailed information about all the E-Day procedures including the issues regarding the voting process, the vote counting, completion of the voting results protocols, exceptional cases on E-Day and so on. The cases possible to be encountered on the voting day were clarified thoroughly via practical workshops.

To arrange the second stage of the project involved by Con.EC and PEC members in compliance with the defined requirements, CEC Training Group prepared special subsidiary slides containing all necessary information and submitted them to local training groups. This stage of the trainings started on November 25 and lasted up to December 3. The conduct of the trainings which mostly contained practical workshops in small groups of mainly, 35-40 persons contributed to their interactivity and possession of the subjects further. In general, the training project played an important role in awareness-raising of lower election commission members regarding the election process.

Voter educational projects

Awareness-raising of voters has always been focused by CEC in the Municipal elections and a number of projects have been carried out in this field intensively. A large number of informative posters of invitation to active participation in elections and to enjoy their rights independently, the voting process, calling to elections and other issues were demonstrated in easily visualised places of densely populated areas. Apart from all these, according to the Election Code, notifications containing the information about the address of the polling stations where voters will vote, place and time of the voting, list of the identification documents to be used in the voting process, the voting rules and other similar educational information were issued and distributed to lower election commissions to deliver to every voter in accordance with the number of voters within the timeframe and manner defined in the legislation.

One group of the education program implemented by CEC covered the young voters. The youth were provided with inclusive opportunities to involve them more actively and utilize their innovative potential, therewith, many projects were carried out in the field of awareness-raising of the youth in the Municipal elections. Special audio and video advertisements, prepared by CEC to invite the youth to active participation in elections were broadcasted regularly on TV and radio channels. Along with all these, audio and video advertisements of educational character on different fields of elections played an important role in awareness-raising of 87 054 young people who joined the Municipal elections for the first time. The foregoing video and audio advertisements were also publicized on the official website and social pages of the Commission. As a result of such activities targeted at increasing the activity of the youth, nearly 27% of those who joined the elections as a candidate were young people.

Within the frame of voter educational program, projects were carried out, aimed at further increasing the activity of the Azerbaijani women in the Municipal elections, who were entitled the election right for the first time in the Muslim East. Along with the video and audio advertisements demonstrated by CEC on TV and radio channels, this type of information disseminated in mass media also contributed to increasing women activity in elections. It should be noted that nearly 30 % of the registered candidates to municipality membership were women.

Educational project jointly with the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice

One of many educational projects in the elections was organized with the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice on December 3, 2019. The seminar-conference attended by the administration of the Penitentiary Service, CEC representatives, the officials of the General Office and detention institutions of the Service was dedicated to the issues concerning the organization and conduct of the voting in the isolation institutes in the Municipal elections. During the event broadcasted by the mass media thoroughly, the CEC representatives informed on the preparations for the Municipal elections, the conduct of the elections in penitentiary institutions in accordance with legal requirements and the voting day procedures, thereby responding to the questions of the conference attendants at the event. The participants were provided with the Election Code, normative legal documents and other methodical aids compiled by CEC at the conference.

Regional seminar-conferences for police jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Within the frame of educational program of election stakeholders, CEC jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs held seminar-conferences for the awareness-raising on the role of the police in the election process in Ganja, Shaki, Shirvan and Baku on December 2-10, 2019. During the seminar-conferences dedicated to further improvement of the service activity of the police in the election process during the Municipal elections, the presentations by the CEC members, the Secretariat officials and the representatives of the relevant bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were heard. The speakers informed in their presentations about the protection of human rights, the election legislation, the voting process, the stages and time period of the election process, the rights and duties of the police in securing the public order during the election campaign and on the voting day, undertaking security measures during the transfer of the ballot papers and other election documents to Con.ECs and CEC after the voting. During the seminar-conferences a guidebook on the roles and duties of the police officials in the Municipal elections, compiled by CEC jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs were submitted to the event attendants.

Practical seminars for IT specialists

One of the educational activities in the field of preparations to the Municipal elections were practical seminars held on December 10-11, 2019 for the specialists on informational technologies, implementing the working out the electronic data of the Con.ECs. The main goal of the seminars was to inform the IT specialists of the Con.ECs on the general function and the updated facilities of the State Automated Information System, to test the special program software and therewith, to clarify the questions interesting to them. The opportunity of testing special program modules prepared to transfer the data on the voter turnout and protocol information on the voting results at the seminars raised the efficiency of the event, thereby increasing the professional skills and work experience of the foregoing specialists.

Other educational projects

After the Municipal elections have been declared, CEC approved Calendar Plan to implement the basic activities and measures implied in the legislation subsequently and efficiently, to render methodical assistance to the election stakeholders and to simplify their activity in the election process. The Calendar Plan was distributed to the lower election commissions upon the publication, as well as, posted on the CEC official website in Azerbaijani and English for the availability of all election stakeholders.

Within the educational program of election stakeholders, CEC issued "E-Day Guide” to inform further the PEC members on the E-Day procedures. The booklet contained detailed information on the roles and duties of the PEC members on E-Day, opening the polling station, activities to be undertaken in the voting hours, closing the polling station, the vote counting and completion of the final protocol on the voting results. The Guide compiled on the basis of the provisions of the Election Code and the instructions, comments and rules adopted by CEC was distributed to relevant addresses to deliver to the election stakeholders and also posted on the Commission’s website. The guide was also submitted to other interested subjects who have joined the process.

To render methodical assistance to the citizens intending to be elected to the municipality membership and simplify their activity to exercise their passive suffrage, CEC issued "Guide for candidates”. The booklet contained detailed information on the steps put for the candidate nomination and registration, rights and duties of the registered candidates, as well as the issued prohibited for them by law. The guidebook was distributed to lower election commissions to deliver to the relevant addresses and also posted on the Commission’s website.

"Guide for Observers” was also published to raise awareness of observers in the Municipal elections. The edition contained the principles of observation, as well as, observers’ rights and duties. The booklet also provided detailed information on the affairs to be abided by, also banned for observers by law. The guidebook was worked out and published in Azerbaijani, English and Russian languages on the basis of the Election Code and legal documents approved by CEC, posted on the CEC website, meanwhile, submitted to the relevant bodies to deliver to observers, as well as, to Con.ECs, political parties to distribute to local observers and other organizations which participated in the observation process.

CEC also compiled "Guide for the participation of police in the Municipal Elections”. The publication prepared jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs contained detailed information on the activities, roles and duties to be implemented by the police while fulfilling their service duty during the pre-election campaign, in the process of transfer and protection of the election documents on E-Day. The guidebook was distributed to the relevant bodies and lower election commissions to deliver to the police officials.

The "Guide for the participation of mass media representatives in the Municipal Elections” clarified thoroughly the rights and duties of the media representatives in the election process and pre-election campaign, thereby informing on the issues banned for them by law. The afore-mentioned guidebook was also distributed to the mass media outlets, meanwhile, posted on the Commission’s website.

Public awareness-raising

Considering the importance of the Municipal elections for the society, CEC has intensified the relationship with mass media after the appointment of the elections. The media representatives had been informed in advance of the time of the CEC sessions and regularly invited to all the activities, also provided with necessary information in a manner turned a tradition for years. After the Municipal elections have been started, CEC regularly held briefings on different current issues, delivered information on all the election-related projects to the mass media outlets functioning in the country and published press releases to raise public awareness of the country on the preparation and conduct of the elections. Hundreds of different materials had been published in press regarding the Commission sessions and organized activities since the day of appointing the elections. Additionally, many statements of the CEC Chairman, Commission members, as well as, the Secretariat officials on current issues were publicized on mass media. Pursuant to the legislation, the CEC decisions and other approved legal documents were published in "Azerbaijan” newspaper and posted on the CEC website. Since the start of the elections, CEC members and Secretariat officials made speech on different current subjects regarding the Municipal elections on the educational program of "Khalg sechir” ("People Elect”) aired weekly at rush-hours on the Public TV. Furthermore, articles of large volume by the CEC representatives on current issues were also published in the "Azerbaijan” newspaper regularly. The representatives of lower election commissions gave interviews to mass media and informed them on the activities implemented regarding the preparations by the Con.ECs. The CEC hotline # 115 functioning since 2008, which have turned a reliable source for the election stakeholders played an important role in public awareness-raising throughout the Municipal elections. In general, 306 appeals were filed to the automated telephone and electronic hotlines. All the appeals, the majority of which concerned the inquiries on the entries in the voters’ lists, voting procedures, address of polling stations and similar contents were immediately responded to and relevant steps were put for.

Nomination and registration of candidates

After the start of the elections, campaign of nominating candidates to municipality membership was commenced. The stage was held in transparent atmosphere without any offending case and was remembered with the activity of different political forces. All the applications filed to CEC for registration of the authorized representatives by 13 political parties intending to participate in elections with their candidates were implemented positively and all persons submitted by the political parties were registered as authorized representatives.

The appeals filed to Con.ECs by candidates nominated by political parties, self-nominees or by voters’ initiative groups were examined within a manner and timeframe defined in the legislation and 42 769 nominees on 1 606 municipalities were approved. 14 604 nominees were nominated by political parties, 2 persons by initiative groups and 28 163 candidates joined the elections on their own initiatives. The presence of the citizens who belonged to 35 political parties among those who joined the elections was a clear indicator of the interest by different layers of the society to the elections.

All the candidates participating in the elections were issued signature sheets at necessary amount timely and they conducted campaign of signature collection independently. 41 462 nominees who have submitted to Con.ECs signature sheets and other documents with necessary voters’ signatures for the registration were registered, which was a record indicator in the Municipal elections held in Azerbaijan so far, thereby allowing a broad choice for the country electorate in formation of local self-management. 14 353 of registered candidates were nominated by 13 political parties, two of them by voters’ initiative groups and 27 107 candidates participated in elections on own initiatives.

The process of checking candidates’ documents was held in fully open and transparent atmosphere for all the interested subjects and public from the beginning till the end of the registration stage. So that, the authorized representatives of political parties and candidates to municipality membership, observers and representatives of mass media could follow the process and get familiar any time they wanted.

After the stage of candidates’ registration period has ended, the ballot papers, the format and number of which had been approved by CEC within a manner and timeframe defined in the legislation were started to be printed and 5 020 287 ballot papers on 1 606 municipalities were printed and distributed to Con.ECs timely.

Pre-election campaign

After the stage of candidates’ registration has ended, one of the most important phases of the election competition – pre-election campaign started. To ensure the opportunities implied in the legislation for the pre-election campaign actors to hold their campaign, lower election commissions led by CEC and other relevant bodies implemented all activities in compliance with the legislation within their competences and atmosphere for equal pre-election campaign was created in the country to hold free, fair and transparent elections. 3 462 venues (1 778 indoor and 1 684 outdoor) in the country were given to disposal of candidates within the whole territory of the country with the assistance of local executive authorities as in compliance with the Election Code. Candidates held their pre-election meetings with their voters, using those areas freely upon only informing the Constituency Election Commissions. Apart from permanent venues, campaign stakeholders could also use other opportunities implied in the Election Code to deliver their pre-election platforms to their voters. Therewith, during pre-election campaign more than ten thousand of large-sized bill boards, two of which were installed within every polling station along with other places to locate posters and other printed materials. Meanwhile, to provide pre-election campaign opportunity to the political parties and independent candidates participating in the Municipal elections, the pricelist and terms offered by 19 mass media outlets for the payable airtime and space for publication was submitted to CEC and this information was posted on the Commission’s website for the candidates to get familiar with and the equality of terms for all candidates was constantly kept in focus.

Pre-election campaign started from November 30, 2019 was held generally, under civil and modern requirements and ended at 08:00 a.m. on December 22, 2019.

Openness and transparency in elections

Despite the local importance of the Municipal elections, like other elections held in Azerbaijan these elections were also focused on by relevant international (foreign) organizations and featured with the participation of many domestic and international observers. The projects and steps implemented to ensure openness and transparency were important principles contributing to the conduct of 2019 Municipal elections fairly and freely. In general, 52 636 local observers were accredited by CEC and Con.ECs to monitor the elections. 62 out of 1 512 persons entitled to conduct observation upon being accredited by CEC represented political parties, 1 175 represented non-governmental organizations and 275 persons joined the election observation on their own initiatives. Constituency Election Commissions accredited 51 124 observers who were entitled to hold observation within the territory of the relevant election constituency and 20 424 out of them represented 31 political parties, 2 524 persons 20 non-governmental organizations, 1 498 persons registered candidates to the municipality membership and 26 678 persons took part in the observation of the elections on their own initiatives.

17 international observers representing 9 foreign organizations, as well as, 7 representatives of 3 international mass media outlets also monitored the Municipal elections. Domestic media outlets participated without requirement of registration in the observation of all the election-related processes since the declaration of elections and including the proceeding period.

Along with all other means to ensure openness and transparency further, the practice of using webcams applied successfully since 2008 broadly in the country and known as an experience of Azerbaijan in the election practice was also implemented in these elections. Having discussed the issue at the Commission session, it was decided to install webcams in 1000 polling stations( approx..20% of the polling stations) covering the territory of the whole country excluding the then-occupied areas, the list of the polling stations where webcams would be installed was published in press and posted on the CEC official website. Webcams provided an opportunity to internet users of direct monitoring of the voting process, vote count and aggregation of the results lively from the beginning till the end via the CEC website through internet without a requirement of any registration either within the country or abroad. Through the day nearly 200 000 views were recorded through webcams, nearly 66% of which was within the country and 34% from abroad.

CEC website

The availability of all the necessary information in the Municipal elections as in previous elections in effective manner on the Commission website (www.msk.gov.az, www.cec.gov.az, www.infocenter.gov.az) contributed further to the efficient awareness-raising of voters, interested stakeholders and public representatives on elections. The regularly updated information ensured the awareness of the election process participants, thereby playing an important role in improving transparency in the development of processes.

The website which has been under the disposal of users with its prompt and systematic activity contained the basic legal framework of elections and information on different elections - the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Election Code, all instructions, rules, comments and decisions adopted by CEC in Azerbaijan and English languages. The information on the CEC activity during the Municipal elections, the opinions provided by the Expert Group on the filed appeals and complaints, the relevant decisions of and press releases on the session had been posted immediately after the session on the website in Azerbaijan and English. Apart from all these, the dislocation of the election constituencies and polling stations, voters’ search system, visit of voters to the polling station via special navigation program software, list of 1 606 municipalities where elections were conducted and the number of the members to be elected to them, polling stations where the voting to the municipality was held, information on the nomination and registration of members to municipality, as well as, structures, addresses and contacts of election commissions, addresses and maps of polling stations, information on pre-election campaign, other information of public interest had also been regularly posted on the CEC website.

More than 280 000 views of the CEC website was recorded only on E-Day.

Election Day

On December 23, 2019 elections were held to 1 606 municipalities on 5 049 polling stations on 118 election constituencies. On E-Day the voting started at 8:00 a.m. and by visiting the polling station, voters could express their will freely and independently and in general, 32,69 % of voters’ general number participated in the voting.

On E-Day the information on voters’ turnout for 5 times - at 10.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m., 15.00 p.m., 17.00 p.m. and 19.00 p.m. had been transmitted to CEC via the special software of the "Elections” State Automated Information System and publicized directly on the Commission’s website. All the TV channels functioning in the country aired live interviews and news releases to broadcast the activity of CEC and lower election commissions during the day and took direct participation in monitor of the information entered CEC. After the voting has ended, the vote counting was being held incessantly. Within several hours after the voting ended, the protocol data of all polling stations in the country was transmitted to CEC and publicized directly on the Commission’s website in an effective manner for local and international community to get familiar with the election results and preliminary voting results were announced, basing on the information received from approx. 92% of the polling stations in the country. The process of direct receive of the data from the polling stations was continued regularly and the preliminary results on all the polling stations was publicized within a short time period.

After the vote counting has ended in the polling stations, the final voting results protocols and other election documents were delivered to relevant superior election commissions within a manner and timeframe defined by law.

Not any official appeal or complaint was filed to CEC on the E-Day. In general, nearly 220 informative inquiries entered to the Commission’s hotline and electronic hotlines, 90 of which concerned mainly the voters’ lists and addresses of polling stations, 130 inquiries were related to legal issues of informative type. All the inquiries received via the hotlines were responded efficiently and necessary measures were taken timely.

Election dispute resolution

The appeals and complaints filed to CEC are investigated by the Expert Group of 9 persons and relevant decisions are adopted upon the discussion at the Commission sessions as in compliance with the Election Code and Instruction "On the rules for filing the appeals and complaints on the violation of the election right to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Constituency Election Commissions and the consideration of the appeals”. The foregoing procedures contributed to more effective and inclusive investigation of the appeals.

CEC immediately responded to all the appeals filed during the Municipal elections and adopted relevant decisions by discussing at the Commission sessions upon the inclusive and detailed investigation. To ensure fairness of the implementation of the election right, inclusive investigation of every complaint was held, the Expert Group members investigating the complaints put necessary steps for inspecting the reported cases and meet with witnesses, reported to the Commission regarding the arrived conclusion and adopted final decision basing on the voting of the Commission members. The participation of the wishing plaintiffs at the investigation and the CEC session on the relevant issue was ensured and the sessions on the investigation of appeals were held with direct participation of plaintiffs and other interested subjects.

The activity of the Expert Group had been fully open to plaintiffs, observers and other interested persons to ensure transparency in the investigation process of appeals and complaints, they had been regularly informed on the investigation process and invited to follow the processes. Furthermore, all the information on the procedures – the date of filing, number, time of the appeal, the data of the plaintiff, subject of the appeal, the expert who investigated it, Expert opinion on investigation, steps put for investigation and decision made by CEC had been posted on the Commission’s website and regularly updated, thus ensured transparency further and made timely information available for citizens.

Neither appeal nor complaint on the violation of the legislation had been filed to CEC since the appointment of the elections up to the voting day. After the E-Day, generally, 49 appeals were filed, covering 40 municipalities (approx.. 2,5% of the current 1 606 municipalities in the country) on 30 election constituencies. The appeals were investigated by the CEC Expert Group members as in comply with the election legislation and with the participation of the interested subjects, substantiated decisions were made upon the discussion at the Commission sessions.By the Commission’s decision, the voting results on 39 polling stations were annulled and the elections on 9 municipalities were invalidated, basing on the investigation of the appeals filed to CEC, also of the materials and documents available through other sources.

Announcement of the Municipal elections results

The decision adopted unanimously upon the discussion at the CEC final session held on January 11, 2020 with the participation of international organizations and mass media outlets, contained the annul of the voting results on 39 polling stations, invalidation of the elections on 9 municipalities, consideration of the formation of the structures of all 1597 municipalities, the election results of which had been approved officially (only 2 municipalities had not been formed in full structure) and the declaration of the list of the elected members to municipalities.

12 Precinct Election Commissions were dismissed due to the irregularities allowed in their activity during the preparation, conduct of the elections and determination of the results.

During the session the CEC final protocol on the general election returns was signed by the Commission members and the elections were finalised.