17:00, 21 April 2012

Azerbaijan amends Electoral Code

On April 20, the National Assembly of Azerbaijan adopted amendments to the country's Electoral Code (EC).

In particular, the amendments shorten various electoral procedures. Thus, the deadline for election commissions to provide media with data about registered candidates was halved – from 48 down to 24 hours.

Some of the amendments have to do with the terms for consideration of complaints against violations of the law during the election campaign. Now, election commissions must consider complaints and decide on them within 3 days after receipt.

On the voting day, complaints should be considered immediately. The decision on the complaint must also be declared to the applicant immediately. Also, the term for the courts to consider appeals against decisions of election commissions was reduced from three to two days. On the voting day, the courts should deal with complaints immediately.

In the context of the adopted amendments, relevant changes were made in the Codes of Administrative and Civil Procedure of Azerbaijan.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent