POLITICS
Xinhua highlights presidential election in Azerbaijan
Baku, October 9 (AZERTAC). Chinese Xinhua News Agency has published an article highlighting the presidential election in Azerbaijan.
The article, headlined Azerbaijanis vote in presidential election, says: “Voting kicked off in Azerbaijan`s presidential election Wednesday. Some 5,492 polling stations in 125 constituencies across the country opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) and will close at 7:00 p.m. (1400 GMT).”
“About 5 million eligible voters will cast their ballots, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Mazahir Panahov.
The CEC chief said about 1,400 international observers, including nearly 100 foreign media representatives, were expected to monitor the election.
The voting process was also being monitored by approximately 52,000 local observers, of whom more than 6,000 were accredited by the CEC and the remaining 42,000 by the permanent election commissions, he said.”
“Panahov said important steps had been undertaken to educate election participants, and handbooks were distributed to policemen and observers.
For the first time, a polling station had been created specifically for Hajj pilgrims. The estimated 3,700 Azerbaijanis currently in Mecca on a Hajj pilgrimage or business would be able to vote there. Web cameras were installed in 1,000 polling stations, along with ramps for the disabled.”