CIS observer praises polling station preparation in Azerbaijan

Coordinator of the international observer group of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan Andrey Yatskin has highlighted the organized nature of the voting process at polling stations during the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

Yatskin made this statement while observing the voting process at a polling station, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.  

"I would like to highlight the organized nature of the voting process at the polling stations. All aspects of the polling sites are prepared at a high standard. This is evident from both the visual materials and the feedback from political organization observers who have sent their representatives," he noted.  

Yatskin also mentioned that the necessary conditions at the polling station he observed were well-organized. "I believe the elections reflect the overall enthusiasm of the Azerbaijani people to make their electoral choice," he added.

Polls have opened in Azerbaijan's snap parliamentary elections. A total of 990 candidates are vying for 125 seats in the Azerbaijani parliament. Across the republic, 6,478 polling stations have been set up to accommodate the 6,421,960 registered voters. Notably, 51,141 citizens will be casting their votes for the first time in the elections.

The Central Election Commission has printed 6,516,567 ballot papers to ensure a smooth voting process. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), 112,749 local observers and 589 international observers from 51 international organizations and 69 countries have been registered for the elections. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called for the snap elections on June 28, 2024. The polls will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. 

Following Azerbaijan’s Election Code, the election campaign commenced on August 9, 2024, and officially paused 24 hours before the voting began, respecting the election silence period. The elections have attracted participation from 25 political parties, with candidates represented across the ballots. With nearly a thousand candidates, the competition for the parliamentary seats is expected to be intense.