Azerbaijan, Baku, May 18 / Trend Vugar Imanov, Elchin Mehdiyev /
Voting organized by the Eurovision Organizing Committee and the EBU is underway at the Baku Crystal Hall press center.
Journalists, accredited fans, and delegations from different countries are attending the voting.
Everyone can take part in interactive voting only once, as well as vote for the 10 representatives from each semi-final, who will reach the finals.
At the moment, the "Buranovskie Grandmothers" from Russia are still the leaders in the first semi-finals in accordance with the voting (compared to yesterday). Eleftheria from Greece ranked second, and Mandinga group from Romania - third.
Zeljko Joksimovic from Serbia ranked first, Lauren from Sweden - second, and Gaitana from Ukraine - third in the second semifinal.
The final results will be announced three hours before each of the semi-finals.
A new voting technology based on a touch screen booth has been used in Azerbaijan for the first time in the history of the Eurovision song contest.
The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Baku Crystal Hall. The arena has a capacity for up to 23,000 spectators.
Approximately 16,000 people will be able to attend each of the three Eurovision Song Contest live shows.
The semi-finals of the contest will be held on May 22 and May 24, while the final is on May 26. The logo for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest is 'Fire Flower', while the motto is Light your fire.
Azerbaijan won the right to host the prestigious European song contest after the victory of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell / Nikki) at Eurovision 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany last May.
