Azerbaijan, Baku, December 23 / Trend , U.Sadikhova /
During the voting in some polling stations in Baku, serious violations have not been identified that would impede the process of municipal elections, the Baku branch of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of the Secretariat of the IPA CIS Council reported.
Voter turnout in Azerbaijani municipal elections hits 28.51 percent (1,308,190 voters) as of 5 p.m, Elections Information Center under the CEC told Trend .
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.
All conditions for holding transparent and democratic elections have been created at polling stations in Azizbayov, Sabunchu, Surakhani, Nasimi, Binagadi, Narimanov, Yasamal and Sabail districts of Baku, said the Institute, which conducted monitoring in the districts. Despite that in the morning, voter turnout was low, in the second half of the day, the voter turnout increased, the report said.
Azerbaijan has registered about 31,000 candidates, including 6,108 women, for municipal members. Candidates from 18 political parties have been registered for elections. Candidates refer to 30 political parties.
The CEC registered 48,388 observers, including 1,160 local observers and 52 foreign observers.