The Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA) and the ELS Azerbaijani Independent Research Center said the municipal elections were democratic.
“The ACSDA’s observations during the municipal elections suggest that voter turnout was 32.6 percent,” ACSDA Elections Staff Head Maharram Zulfugarli said at a briefing organized at the Trend Press Center.
According to Zulfugarli, the association monitored the progress of the municipal elections in 49 constituencies (1,600 polling stations), while working closely with international organizations.
The ACSDA announced that municipal elections were held transparently in accordance with the commitments accepted before the Council of Europe.
The organizations monitored the voting process at 222 polling stations in 17 constituencies of eight district election commission.
Voter turnout in Baku district election commissions was as follows: Narimanov – 28.3 percent, Nasimi – 26.4 percent, Sabayel – 31.3 percent, and Khatai – 28.3 percent.
The country has about 4.6 million registered voters. About 15,682 members are planned to be elected to 1,718 municipalities. Municipal elections were held twice in 1999 and 2004.
Azerbaijan has registered about 31,000 candidates, including 6,108 women, for municipal members. Candidates from 18 political parties have been registered for elections.
The Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission stated that based on preliminary information, the voter turnout was 31.86 percent.