Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Trend on 15th
September

Baku, Trend correspondent F. Arifoglu: The Central Electoral
Commission [CEC] has amended the instruction "On the rules of
casting lots to form precinct electoral commissions for the
municipal elections". The amendments to the documents arise
from the need to eliminate gaps in the campaign's legislative
basis, which have caused certain problems in the process of
forming territorial electoral commissions.

The CEC has told Trend news agency that the amended
version of the instruction gives concrete expression to the
sequence of nominations to precinct electoral commissions.
Under the instruction, territorial electoral commissions should
notify local branches of public associations, political parties
and voters about the venue, date and time of the lots-casting.
In accordance with the regulations, local structures of public
organizations and parties should hold a meeting and furnish the
lots-casting commission with an endorsed protocol with the aim
of putting forward nominations for precinct electoral
commissions. As for nominations made at citizens' assemblies in
localities, they are regarded as lawful if they are joined by
no fewer than 15 voters.

To hold the meeting in accordance with the instruction, a
chairman and secretary must be elected. The meeting adopts
decisions by a simple majority of votes. It is noteworthy that
the instruction describes the order of compiling protocols on
the results of the meeting in detail. The protocol is signed by
the chairman and secretary of the meeting. The protocol is
endorsed by a notarial stamp, a local representative of the
executive authorities (in villages) or by the head of the
housing office.

The lots-casting should proceed with the participation of
nominees for precinct electoral commissions, observers and
media representatives. To cast lots, the presence of no fewer
than nine nominees is necessary. In the absence of the required
number of nominees, nominees can in exceptional cases also be
put forward by territorial electoral commissions to ensure a
quorum.

Under the law "On the rules of municipal elections",
precinct electoral commissions should consist of seven people.
The process of forming precinct electoral commissions should be
finalized by 23rd September.

Source: Trend news agency, Baku, in Russian 1310 gmt 15 Sep 99