Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan, Mazahir Panahov, has revealed the number of youth who will vote in elections for the first time.

“This year's parliamentary elections will see 63,500 young people cast their ballots for the first time,” he said at a meeting with representatives of youth organizations in Baku on October 20.

Organized by the Youth Foundation under the Azerbaijani President, the meeting was attended by the Azerbaijani President's Aide for Public and Political Affairs, Ali Hasanov, Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov, as well as heads and representatives of youth organizations.

“Some 257 people will turn 18 on election day,” Panahov noted.

He stressed the importance of the parliamentary elections in terms of the country's public and political life, and urged citizens to be actively involved in this process.

“Young people should also be active in the elections as the most active segments of the society,” the CEC chairman added.

Farhad Hajiyev, the Executive Director of the Youth Foundation, applauded the role of the youth in the development of statehood traditions in Azerbaijan and said that participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan is the civic duty of every young person.

Ali Hasanov, in turn, voiced his hope that the Azerbaijani youth be more active in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November 1.

“Today, discussions on the [parliamentary] election in Azerbaijan are underway in social networks, as well as in local and international media,” he said, adding that the results of the election and exit polls will be discussed following the parliamentary election.

"Be active in the meetings with the candidates, talk about your problems, so that after the election of the MPs, the work with youth would be one of the main directions in their future activities,” Hasanov noted. “I wish each of you to actively participate in the election by perceiving the civil responsibility."

Preparations for the upcoming elections are in full swing. Campaigning kicked off on October 9 and will last until 8:00 a.m. October 31, exactly 23 days before voting as required by law.

In accordance with the schedule approved by the CEC, campaigning can be carried out by registered candidates, their authorized representatives and agents, political parties or political party blocs, and their authorized representatives and agents.

This year about 8 candidates will compete for one seat in the 125-seat Azerbaijani Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the country.

The printing house of the Azerbaijani Parliament has already begun printing some of the 5,344,431 total election ballot papers needed for the 125 election constituencies.

The ballots will first be delivered to the election commissions of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and then to the election constituencies of the mountainous areas of Azerbaijan. Sumgayit, Absheron and Baku will be the last points for distribution.

In accordance with the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan, the process of printing ballot papers will be completed 10 days before voting day.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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