Azeri electoral body offers “electronic voting” to Karabakh Armenians

ANS TV, Baku 13 Aug 05

[Presenter] The Central Electoral Commission [CEC] is going to offer
electronic voting to Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin. So
the Karabakh Armenians will be able to make use of the technical
capabilities of the Elections Information Centre and cast their votes
in a safer way. The CEC also said a member of the electoral commission
in Xankandi constituency No 122 is Armenian.

[Correspondent] According to preliminary estimates, there are over
40,000 voters in the newly-founded Xankandi constituency No 122.
Seven of the nine members of the district electoral commission in
this constituency, which started operating today, are already known.
Three of them are from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, one from the
Musavat Party and one from the Communist Party. Two members of the
commission are nonpartisan, one of whom, Svetlana Grantovna Gorchiyeva,
is of Armenian origin.

By and large, it is clear where the Armenian and Azerbaijani voters
in Xankandi constituency No 122 are going to vote, CEC secretary
Vidadi Mahmudlu has said. The Azerbaijani voters, who are living in
different districts of the country as internally displaced persons,
will vote at polling stations in areas where they currently live.

[Mahmudlu] As for Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin, there is
a preliminary suggestion that polling stations should be set up in
areas close to the occupied territories of Nagornyy Karabakh. It is
also planned to set up polling stations in neighbouring countries.
You know that many Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin have fled
the separatist regime [in Nagornyy Karabakh].

[Correspondent] The CEC will also offer electronic voting to
Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin. So the Karabakh Armenians
will be able to make use of the technical capabilities of the Elections
Information Centre and vote in a safer way.

Mahmudlu said the newly-formed constituency will operate with the help
of international organizations. Azerbaijani Armenians are expected
to receive their voter’s cards through these organizations.

The CEC is also going to appeal to the Azerbaijani government soon.
It will ask the government to help organize the voting.

Mahmudlu believes that the Azerbaijani government will be able to
hold the polls in Xankandi constituency No 122 with the help of
international organizations. Above all, many Azerbaijani citizens’
right to vote, which have been violated for years, will be restored,
he said.

[Passage omitted: Mahmudlu says Azerbaijani Armenians will also be
able to be elected to parliament; Azerbaijan’s leading political
parties and election blocs say they are planning to participate in
the voting in Xankandi constituency No 122]