 |
 |
||
|
|
Counting of votes in the Saeima elections
APPROVED INSTRUCTIONS Counting of votes in the Saeima elections Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1.1. Counting of votes in a polling station shall be commenced at once after closing of the polling station. 1.2. Counting of votes shall be made by a polling station commission at an open meeting. By not disturbing the work of the commission, not more than two authorised observers from each political organisation (party) or an association of political organisations (parties) (henceforth – authorised observers) who have submitted a list of candidates in a relevant election district, as well as members of the Central Election Commission and an election commission of a relevant district, persons authorised by such commissions, members of a relevant city, county or civil parish council, representatives of the mass media may participate in the meeting. 1.3. When counting votes, a polling station commission shall draw up the minutes of vote counting, in two counterparts and consisting of two parts:
2.1.1. seal up openings of ballot boxes; 2.1.2. close of lists of votes and afterwards, when the chairperson of the commission has checked whether the lists of voters have been completed correctly, has signed the same and affixed the seal on them, shall place lists for voting in the polling station and lists for voting at a place of voters separately; 2.1.3. put together all unused and damaged ballot envelopes; 2.1.4. place any ballot materials and forms that have not been used in counting of votes, in order they would not disturb counting of votes. Any unused ballot papers must not be present in the room for counting of votes. 2.2. A polling station commission shall fill in rows C and D in the minutes of vote counting prior to opening of a ballot box: 2.2.1. a total of ballot envelopes (row C1) received from an election commission shall be stated according to the entries in the minutes of the election process; 2.2.2. any remaining ballot envelopes (row C2) shall be counted up (it is recommended to make counting at least twice) and they shall be cancelled after entering of a number of such envelopes in the minutes of vote counting by cutting off the upper right corner of the envelope; 2.2.3. any damaged ballot envelopes for which another ballot envelopes have been repeatedly issued to voters (row C3) shall be counted up (it is recommended to make counting at least twice) and they shall be cancelled after entering of a number of such envelopes in the minutes of vote counting by cutting off the upper right corner of the envelope; 2.2.4. a total number of cancelled ballot envelopes (row C4) shall be calculated arithmetically as a total amount of figures fixed in rows C2 and C3; 2.2.5. a number of ballot envelopes issued to voters (row C5) shall be calculated arithmetically: by subtracting a number of cancelled ballot envelopes (row C4) from the number of ballot envelopes received from an election commission (row C1); 2.2.6. a total number of voters in a polling station shall be stated according to lists of voters completed in the polling station and such a number shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row D2); 2.2.7. a number of voters shall be stated for each such ballot box separately, according to the lists of voters completed at a place of voters and such a number shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (in case, if three ballot boxes have been used: row D3.1; D3.2; D3.3, respectively); 2.2.8. afterwards, a total number of voters at a place of voters shall be summed up arithmetically (D3.1+ D3.2+ D3.3 = D3) and entered in the minutes of vote counting (row D3); 2.2.9. then, a total number of voters shall be summed up arithmetically (D2 + D3) and entered in the minutes of vote counting (row D). 2.3. By taking into account the control methodology indicated in the minutes of vote counting, a polling station commission shall verify correctness of the entries with regard to ballot envelopes and a number of voters (rows C - D). 2.4. In case, if control figures which have been obtained according to the provided control methodology do not match, with regard to ballot envelopes and a number of voters, counting shall be repeated. In case, if control figures do not match after several counting and checks, a respective entry shall be made in the minutes of the election process. Afterwards, any cancelled unused and sealed ballot envelopes and cancelled damaged ballot envelopes shall be packed separately. 2.5. Ballot materials shall be packed by putting a sticker on a package, on which the seal of a polling station commission shall be affixed and the chairperson or the secretary of the polling station commission shall sign the same. Contents of each package shall be indicated on it (for instance, cancelled damaged ballot envelopes), as well as a number thereof. Any present authorised observers shall be entitled to affix their seals on the package and sign on them, and there must be a respective reference thereabout in the minutes of the election process. Section 3. STATING OF THE NUMBER OF VALID BALLOT ENVELOPES IN EACH BALLOT BOX 3.1. After entering of the above mentioned details in the minutes and packaging of any cancelled envelopes, ballot boxes shall be opened. Ballot boxes shall be opened one by one, and valid ballot envelopes shall be counted in accordance with the procedure provided for in this section: 3.1.1. in case, if several ballot boxes have been used for voting at a place of voters, envelopes that have been taken out of the same shall be counted separately; 3.1.2. in case, if several ballot boxes have been used for voting in a polling station, envelopes that have been taken out of the same shall be counted together. 3.2. All ballot envelopes, which have been taken out of each ballot box, shall be sorted, without opening the same, into groups of valid and invalid ballot envelopes. Invalid ballot envelops shall mean envelopes on which the seal of a relevant polling station commission has not been affixed, as well as ballot envelopes, on which a number of the respective elections and a number of the Saeima to be elected have not been indicated. 3.3. In case, if there are ballot papers in a ballot box that are not inside ballot envelopes, such ballot papers shall be cancelled immediately after sorting of the contents of a box by cutting off the upper right corner of a ballot paper and shall be packed in accordance with the procedure provided for in Clause 2.5 herein. A respective mark shall be made in the minutes of the election process. 3.4. All valid ballot envelopes, which have been taken out of each ballot box, shall be counted (counting shall be made at least twice). A number of valid election envelopes must be equal to or less than a respective number of voters entered in lists of voters: 3.4.1. in case, if a number of valid ballot envelopes in any ballot box exceeds a number of voters entered in a respective list of voters, the polling station commission shall make an according entry in the minutes of the election process and shall notify a relevant city, county or civil parish election commission thereof immediately. Further counting and all other actions in respect to the contents of such a ballot box shall be carried out separately by entering the results of counting in a separate minutes of vote counting (in two counterparts); 3.4.2. all valid ballot envelopes from other ballot boxes shall be put together after entering of a number of the same in the minutes of vote counting. 3.5. A number of valid ballot envelopes in respect to each ballot box separately (according to the sequence of opening of the same) shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (rows E2; E3.1; E3.2; E3.3, respectively). A total of valid ballot envelopes in ballot boxed for voting at a place of voters shall be summed up arithmetically and entered in row E3 (E3=E3.1+E3.2+E3.3). A total of valid ballot envelopes shall be summed up arithmetically and entered in row E (E=E2+E3). 3.6. Any invalid ballot envelopes that are found in ballot boxes shall be summed up and packed unopened in accordance with the procedure provided for in Clause 2.5 herein, by indicating on the packaging that a package contains invalid ballot envelopes that have been found in ballot boxes, as well as a total amount thereof. A total of invalid envelopes shall be entered in the minutes of the election process. Section 4. OPENING OF VALID BALLOT ENVELOPES, STATING THE VALIDITY OF BALLOT PAPERS 4.1. A polling station commission shall, by tearing off the marked on a ballot envelope, open valid envelopes and ascertain at the same time, if there is the following in the envelope: 4.1.1. one ballot paper of a relevant election district; 4.1.2. more then one ballot paper; 4.1.3. a ballot paper of another district; 4.1.4. a torn ballot paper; 4.1.5. no ballot paper. 4.2. Ballot envelopes that contained one ballot paper of a relevant election district must not be preserved. Ballot papers from such envelopes shall be placed together for counting. 4.3. In case, if there is more than one ballot paper in any ballot envelope, it shall be notified to the present persons immediately, the ballot papers shall be put back into the ballot envelope and such envelopes shall be delivered to the chairperson of the commission immediately who shall number the same, put a marking “Several ballot papers” on them and shall put them separately. Such envelopes shall be recounted after completion of sorting and a number of the same shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row F). 4.4. In case, if there is no ballot papery in any ballot envelope, it shall be notified to the present persons immediately, such envelopes shall be delivered to the chairperson of the commission immediately who shall number the same, put a marking “Empty” on them and shall put them separately. Such envelopes shall be recounted after completion of sorting and a number of the same shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row G2). 4.5. In case, if there is a torn ballot paper or papers in any ballot envelope, it shall be notified to the present persons immediately, the ballot paper(s) shall be put back into the election envelope, and such envelopes shall be delivered to the chairperson of the commission immediately who shall number the same, put a marking “Torn ballot papers” on them and shall put them separately. Such envelopes shall be recounted after completion of sorting and a number of the same shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row G3). 4.6. In case, if there is a ballot paper of another district in any ballot envelope, it shall be notified to the present persons immediately, such a ballot paper shall be put back in the ballot envelope and such envelopes shall be delivered to the chairperson of the commission immediately who shall number the same, put a marking “Ballot papers of another district” on them and shall put them separately. Such envelopes shall be recounted after completion of sorting and a number of the same shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row G4). 4.7. When all valid envelopes have been opened, a polling station commission shall decide on validity of those ballot papers that were in the ballot envelopes with several ballot papers, about validity of torn ballot papers, as well as ballot papers of other election districts that have been found in the envelopes. A polling station commission shall make a decision on contents of each ballot envelope by indicating in the minutes of the election process due to which reason and how many ballot papers have been recognised as invalid. 4.8. In case, if there is more than one ballot paper in a ballot envelope and such papers are not completely identical in respect to their content (also, in respect to any marks made therein), they shall be recognised as invalid. Such ballot papers shall be marked (Clause 4.12), put back into a ballot envelope, and a number of such envelopes shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row G1). 4.9. In case, if there are several completely identical ballot papers in a ballot envelope (also, in respect to any marks made therein), one of the ballot papers shall be recognised as valid and added to ballot papers valid for counting but the other ballot papers shall be recognised as invalid. All ballot papers that have been recognised as invalid shall be marked (Clause 4.12), put back into a ballot envelope, and a number of such envelopes shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row F1). 4.10. Any torn and therefore invalid ballot papers shall be put back into envelopes, and a number of such envelopes shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row G3). 4.11. Ballot papers from other election districts, after they have been recognised as invalid, shall be marked (Clause 4.12), put back into envelopes, and a number of such envelopes shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row G4). A total number of ballot envelopes that do not contain any valid ballot paper shall be entered in row G. 4.12. Marking “Invalid” shall be made on each invalid ballot paper (with the exception of torn ballot papers), which shall be signed by the chairperson or the secretary of a commission. Invalid ballot papers shall be marked with a decimal number where the numerator shall be an index number of the envelope and the denominator: an index number of the ballot paper in the envelope (for instance, if three different ballot papers have been found in envelope No. 4, they shall be numbered as follows: 4/1, 4/2, 4/3). 4.13. Ballot envelopes with invalid ballot papers, as well as empty ballot envelopes that have been found in a ballot box shall be packed in accordance with the procedure provided for in Clause 2.5 herein by indicating a number of ballot envelopes and invalid ballot papers on the packaging. 4.14. A polling station commission shall count valid ballot papers and shall enter a total amount of the same in the minutes of vote counting (row H) (counting shall be made at least twice). Afterwards, the polling station commission shall verify correctness of entries, according to the control methodology indicated in the minutes of vote counting, with regard to ballot envelopes and a number of valid ballot papers. Section 5. SORTING OF VALID BALLOT PAPERS AND COUNTING OF THE SAME PER CANDIDATE LIST 5.1. A polling station commission shall sort valid ballot papers per candidate list. Ballot papers shall be checked repeatedly by another member of the commission after sorting of the same. Then, ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list shall be counted. Number of ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (row R). A total amount of ballot papers entered in row R must match with a number of valid ballot papers entered in row S. The first part of the minutes of vote counting shall be signed by all those members of a polling station commission who participate at such vote counting. The chairperson of the commission shall sign and stamp each page of the minutes of vote counting. 5.2. When votes cast for each candidate list have been counted, a polling station commission shall display information about a total amount of valid ballot papers and a number of valid ballot papers submitted for each candidate list in the polling station at a visible place, shall notify a relevant city, county or civil parish commission thereof immediately, and a respective entry shall be made in the minutes of vote counting and the minutes of the election process. The district, city, county and civil parish election commission shall notify the respective information provided by the polling station commissions about a total amount of valid ballot papers and a number of valid ballot papers submitted for each candidate list to a relevant district election commission. 5.3. A polling station commission shall pack into one package the following, after signing of the first part of the minutes of vote counting and sending of the information stated in clause 5.2 herein, prior to announcing a break: 5.3.1. all delivered valid ballot papers that have been grouped and packed according to the numbers of candidate lists; 5.3.2. empty ballot envelopes and ballot envelopes with invalid ballot papers; 5.3.3. one counterpart of the first part of the minutes of vote counting; 5.3.4. lists of voters. A package shall be sealed by affixing the seal of a polling station commission. Any present authorised observers shall be entitled to affix their seals on the package or sign on the same, and a respective reference must be included in the minutes of the election process. 5.4. Packaged ballot materials shall be left under supervision of two persons appointed by a decision of a polling station commission, during a break, and a respective entry must be made in the minutes of the election process. 5.5. Upon a request of any present authorised observers (or representatives of the mass media), a polling station commission shall provide information to them, which is included in the first part of the minutes of vote counting. Section 6. COUNTING OF VOTES SUBMITTED FOR CANDIDATES 6.1. A polling station commission shall check, after a break, whether the sealing of packed ballot materials has not been damaged, and a respective note shall be made about the same in the minutes of the election process. In case, if a sealing is damaged and a package has been opened, the work of the polling station must be stopped, the police must be called, and a higher election commission shall be notified thereof immediately. 6.2. Upon resuming of work and before opening of the packed ballot materials, a number of ballot papers submitted for each candidate list (row R) shall be entered in the first section of the second part of the minutes of vote counting from the forth section of the first part of the minutes of vote counting. 6.3. Then, packages with valid ballot papers submitted for each candidate list shall be opened one by one and the ballot papers shall be recounted. Results shall be entered in a respective row of column J. In case, if respective columns R and J do not match, counting shall be repeated. If the said figures do not match after several counting and checks, a respective entry shall be made about the same in the minutes of the election process. 6.4. Ballot papers of each list shall be sorted into two groups: amended and non-amended: 6.4.1. amended ballot papers shall mean ballot papers where a voter has put marking “+” against a surname of at least one candidate or has deleted a given name or surname of at least one candidate; 6.4.2. all other ballot papers shall be deemed as non-amended; 6.4.3. ballot papers shall be check repeatedly by another member of a polling station commission after sorting of the same. 6.5. The following shall be counted separately for each candidate list: 6.5.1. non-amended ballot papers and a number thereof shall be entered in column J1 of the second part of the minutes of vote counting; 6.5.2. amended ballot papers, and a number thereof shall be entered in column J2 of the second part of the minutes of vote counting. 6.6. After entering of such details, a polling station commission shall verify correctness of the entries in accordance with the control methodology indicated in the minutes of vote counting. In case, if control figures do not match, counting shall be repeated. 6.7. After checking of correctness of entries, non-amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list shall be packed separately (Clause 2.5), by indicating on the packaging, for which candidate list the non-amended ballot papers have been submitted, as well as a number thereof. 6.8. Then amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list shall be sorted into three groups in respect to the first candidate of the list:
6.9. Ballot papers of each relevant group shall be counted and the results in respect to such a candidate shall be entered in the minutes of vote counting (column L, M, or N, respectively), entered figures shall be summed up arithmetically and the sum shall be entered in the minutes (column O). 6.10. When votes submitted for each candidate have been counted, it shall be checked in respect to each candidate whether a figure entered in column O corresponds with a number of amended ballot papers submitted for a respective candidate list in column J2. 6.11. Then, amended ballot papers that have been submitted for a respective candidate list and sorted shall be sorted anew according to the same procedure and shall be counted sequentially for each next candidate in a relevant candidate list. 6.12. Thus, sorting and counting of ballot papers of each list shall be repeated at least twice, besides the repeated sorting and counting shall be made by another member of a polling station commission. In case, if results of counting do not match, counting shall be repeated. 6.13. Correctness of all entries shall be checked once again after finishing of vote counting, according to the control methodology indicated in Clause 6.10 herein. Checking shall be made by the member of the polling station commission who has not made checking before. 6.14. The second part of the minutes of vote counting shall be signed by all the members of a polling station commission who participate at vote counting. The chairperson of the commission shall sign and stamp each page of the minutes of vote counting. 6.15. After confirmation of the results of vote counting, a station commission shall announce them to any present authorised observers and representatives of the mass media. 6.16. After signature of the minutes of vote counting, amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list shall be packaged separately (Clause 2.5) by indicating on the packaging for which candidate list they have been submitted, as well as a number of the same. Section 7. FINAL PROVISIONS 7.1. The following election materials shall be packaged into one or several packages to be delivered to an election commission: 7.1.1. non-amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list; 7.1.2. amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list; 7.1.3. invalid ballot papers with envelopes; 7.1.4. cancelled ballot envelopes; 7.1.5. lists of voters and one counterpart of the minutes of vote counting (both parts); 7.1.6. a book for registration of applications from voters for organising of voting at a place of a voter, as well as written applications of such voters; 7.1.7. minutes of the election process, and received complaints. 7.2. Passport stamps shall be packed separately. 7.3. Packages shall be sealed with the seal of a polling station commission. They shall be signed by the chairperson or the secretary of the polling station commission. Any present authorised observers shall be entitled to affix their seals on such packages and sign on them. 7.4. The chairperson of a polling station commission shall, not later than on the next working day after finishing of vote counting, deliver packaged election materials (Clauses 7.1 and 7.2), as well as an unpackaged counterpart of the minutes of vote counting to a relevant city, county or civil parish election commission. An accompanying letter (in two counterparts) shall indicate a number of packages, contents thereof, date and time of sending, and a given name and surname of a person with whom the election materials have been sent in case, if the same is not fulfilled by the chairperson of the polling station commission due to any reasons. 7.5. An official of a city, county or civil parish election commission shall, upon receipt of an unpackaged counterpart of the minutes of vote counting and packaged election materials (Clauses 7.1 and 7.2) from polling station commissions, write time on the counterpart of the minutes of vote counting and the accompanying letter (both counterparts) when such materials have been received, shall sign the same and affix the seal on them. One counterpart of the accompanying letter, on which a marking shall be made about receipt of the unpacked minutes of vote counting, shall be received by a representative of a polling station commission. 7.6. A relevant official of a city, county or civil parish election commission shall, upon receipt of the unpackaged counterpart of the minutes of vote counting, shall verify correctness of completion thereof. 7.7. The chairperson of a city, county or civil parish election commission shall, not later than on the next working day after receipt of the minutes of vote counting and packaged election materials from polling station commissions, deliver the same to the election commission of a relevant district. An accompanying letter (in two counterparts) shall indicate a number of packages, contents thereof, date and time of sending, and a given name and surname of a person with whom the election materials have been sent in case, if the same is not fulfilled by the chairperson of the election commission due to any reasons. 7.8. An official of a district election commission shall, upon receipt of an unpackaged counterpart of the minutes of vote counting of election stations and packaged election materials (Clauses 7.1 and 7.2) from city, county, civil parish election commissions, write time on the counterpart of the minutes of vote counting and the accompanying letter (both counterparts) when such materials have been received, shall sign the same and affix the seal on them. 7.9. An official of a district election commission shall, upon receipt of the unpacked counterparts of the minutes of vote counting in polling stations, shall verify correctness of completion thereof. 7.10. After receipt of the minutes of vote counting in polling stations, a city or district election commission of the Republic shall draw up the minutes of vote counting of the city or district election commission of the Republic, respectively. 7.11. City councils and district councils of the Republic must provide the election commissions with suitable premises where election materials shall be stored until the term stated in the law (Clauses 7.1 and 7.2). 7.12. The minutes of vote counting issued by a city or district election commission of the Republic, by enclosing the minutes of vote counting of polling stations shall be delivered to the Central Election Commission not later than within three working days from drawing up of the same. 7.13. City or district election commissions of the Republic shall open the packaged election materials ten days after convening of the newly elected Saeima (Clause 7.1) and shall: 7.13.1. deliver the following to the Central Election Commission: 7.13.1.1. lists of voters, 7.13.1.2. minutes of vote counting (the second – packaged counterparts), 7.13.1.3. books for registration of applications from voters for organising of voting at a place of a voter, as well as applications of such voters, 7.13.1.4. minutes of the election process, 7.13.1.5. passport stamps. 7.13.2. The following shall be destroyed, by drawing up a certificate in two counterparts: 7.13.2.1. non-amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list, 7.13.2.2. amended ballot papers that have been submitted for each candidate list, 7.13.2.3. invalid ballot papers together with envelopes, 7.13.2.4. cancelled ballot envelopes. Chairman of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars Secretary of the Central Election Commission Kristīne Kurzemniece |
|
|
