The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan /CEC/ conducted a sitting at the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss the issue of compiling and specifying a single voters list.

Opening the sitting, CEC chairman Mazahir Panakhov reminded the Election Code requirements concerning the specifying the single voters list and noted that the CEC wrapped up the work with lists submitted by the district election commissions. The CEC held a sitting to this end and recognized this stage as completed. In this respect, CEC members were sent on mission to provinces. After making amendments to the voter’s lists they will be approved and sent back to the district election commissions. CEC chairman expressed gratitude to local authorities and district election commissions for their contribution.

Pointing out that the process of specifying the voters list is conducted in Azerbaijan for the first time M. Panakhov stressed that it once more proves the active involvement of Azerbaijan in democratic values and international standards. He also reported on the cooperation between the CEC and International Fund for Electoral Systems /IFES/.

The CEC chairman especially emphasized the right of each voter to learn of the lists at the district election commission and gave necessary instructions to commission chairmen to create conditions for this.

Then, CEC chairman mentioned the settlement of some problems of district commissions to enhance the effectiveness of their activity.

Taking into account proposals and remarks regarding the single voter’s list, director of the information center “Sechkiler” Igbal Babayev told of the new technologies applied for creation of a single database.

Touching upon the work being done towards the process of the voter’s list specification I. Babayev noted that every district election committee has its digital version of voter’s lists that is connected to the single database of voters. Today, the single voter’s database has 4.462.772 voters. In compliance with the Election Code, the specification should be carried out 35 days ahead of the Election Day. The computers at the district commissions are connected through modem to both Central Election Commission and information center “Sechkiler”. As a result, the single network ensures the rapid transmission of data from district commissions.

The compilation of voters lists was based on international experience. Such problems are discussed at the commission of legal and technical aid of the Council of Europe on electronic voting issues.

CEC member, head of the working group to specify the single voter’s list Ilham Mammadov updated on the activity of the group and noted that working group is consisted of 3 CEC members, passport registration officers and statistics officials. The working group closely collaborates with the IFES.

The discussions were followed by the speeches of CEC deputy chairman Svetlana Gasimova, CEC member Enver Aliyev and head of IFES Baku office Christopher Shields.