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Observer of the Human Rights Center was not allowed to record comment in the log-book

June 15, 2014
 
Humanrights.ge 

Human Rights Center’s observer reports several ballot papers “disappeared” from the bundle of 50-ballot papers at 11:30 am in the polling station # 40 in Sagarejo district.

“After the bundle of ballot papers finished, 2 papers for district governors’ candidates and 1 for proportional elections were left. However, the number of ballot papers in the bundles must be equal because each voter receives three ballot papers – for proportional elections, for single-seat candidates and for the candidates of district governors/mayors. There are 50 ballot papers in each bundle. Apparently registrar gave extra ballot paper to a voter,” observer Mariam Topuridze said. 

Observer wanted to record comment in the log-book with regard to the fact but commission chairperson did not allow her. The situation improved after DEC members appeared in the polling station. They clarified to the precinct election commission chairperson that it was his obligation to allow observer to record comment. As a result the observer managed to record comment.

Some minor violations were also observed in the polling station # 40 in Sagarejo district. According to the Human Rights Center, the polling station is located in the corridor of the school. People were gathering outside the building in the first half of the day and made some loud remarks, comments. They talked with the people inside the polling station through window that caused noise in the precinct. After the observer complained about the fact, the commission chairperson forbade everybody to approach the window and situation improved.

Besides that, like in other villages of ethnic Azerbaijan citizens, working language in the commission members is Azerbaijan that creates problems for observers to properly observe ongoing procedures.

“We observe that local population has low awareness about election procedures. Most of them do not know how to vote. Voters entered booths and then asked for help – they did not know how to mark desired candidate. Similar situation caused disorder in the polling station because commission members and observers started argument who could assist voters in the booth. After Human Rights Center’s observer clarified to the commission members, next voter accompanies the previous one into the booth and helps him/her. Another problem is that commission members explain procedures to people in Azerbaijan language that creates barrier for observers to properly monitor the polling process,” Human Rights Center’s observer reports.

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