Azerbaijan holds municipal elections as polling stations open nationwide

Polling stations across Azerbaijan have officially opened for municipal elections, with voting set to continue until 19:00 local time.

Elections are taking place at 5,846 polling stations across 118 constituencies, where 16,092 candidates are competing for 8,071 seats in 685 municipalities, per Caliber.Az.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has confirmed that 5,961,987 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in today’s elections.

Speaking about the election process, Chairman of the Central Election Commission Mazahir Panahov stated, "The municipal elections have been organised in accordance with all requirements. In general, the voting process will be observed by 71,209 people, including observers, members of precinct and district election commissions, as well as members of expert groups. If we add media representatives, the total number of persons entitled to observe the voting process is close to 80,000."

Panahov also noted that voter turnout data will be broadcast live at specific intervals throughout the day. "The voters' activity will be broadcast live at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00, and 19:00," he said.

To encourage participation, today has been declared a non-working day in Azerbaijan.

The election process is being closely monitored, with nearly 80,000 people granted the right to observe. This includes 71,209 accredited observers, precinct and district election commission members, as well as expert group members.

Panahov emphasized that the elections are being conducted with full transparency, utilising modern technology. "Webcams are used in election observation. Interested persons from any country can observe the elections by visiting the Central Election Commission website. This is an internationally accepted practice in Azerbaijan."

He further assured that in the event of any irregularities, authorities would take immediate action. "If any negative situations are recorded during the election process, the relevant polling station will inform the constituency and from there — the CEC," he stated.

The elections have generated significant interest across Azerbaijan, with candidates from 24 political parties participating in the race.

Panahov highlighted the high level of engagement, stating, "Municipal elections have aroused great interest in Azerbaijan. In general, candidates from 24 political parties are represented in the municipal elections."

As voting continues, the Central Election Commission has confirmed that preliminary results will be released tonight, providing an early indication of the election outcomes.

By Tamilla Hasanova