6665 | 18 March 2025 | 13:48

The Deputy Chairman of the CEC stated that if the footage from the video recordings from a polling station in the "Triaditsa" district is carefully examined, it can be seen that the ballots are being collected in a blue bag with the section numb

 The Central Election Commission (CEC) has decided to discuss proposals for changes in the Election Code, as well as changes in the guidelines for packaging electoral registers. The proposal was made by CEC deputy chair Rositsa Mateva during today's meeting. The meeting began with a minute of silence in memory of those who died in the fire in Kochani, Republic of North Macedonia.   

 CEC deputy chair Rositsa Mateva read a letter from the deputy chair of a polling commission in Sofia - in the "Triaditsa" district, which raises several questions regarding the recently concluded case at the Constitutional Court (CC) regarding the elections. The questions concern the packaging of books on election day, with the first one being related to a video clip showing that the election materials are packaged in two bags, explained Mateva. She added that seven sections have been identified, and it is questioned whether they were part of the CEC inspection. 

 The sender of the letter also states that zero paper and machine ballots were reported in two of these seven sections, and in the remaining five, zero ballots were recorded, either for paper or machine ballots.  

 Together with this, the sender of the letter has also sent pictures from the videos of some of these sections and asks if the CEC instructed the precinct election commission to provide two bags and whether they were supposed to be of different colors.

 Mateva reminded that the Central Election Commission (CEC) has determined the type and size of bags in which the ballots and materials from the conducted elections are stored. In the CEC's definition, one bag should be handed over, which is white in color, and the decision for packaging the election materials describes in detail what is placed in this bag.

 The Deputy Chairman of the CEC pointed out that if the photos from the video recordings of a section in the "Triaditsa" district are examined closely, it can be seen that the ballots are collected in a blue bag, on which the section number is written. However, what this bag is exactly is unclear, Mateva notes.

 She added that some of the questions in the letter asked whether this bag was handed over for storage. The Deputy Chairman of the CEC also said that she had looked at the recordings from another section that was described as having zero votes. The recording stops after the ballots have been verified and counted, but there is no broadcasting when the envelopes containing the ballots are being packaged.

 In another section, which showed zero votes only for the paper ballots, it is clearly seen in the recording that two white sacks were provided to the precinct election commission, with one containing the numbers of the unused paper ballots, and the other containing the remaining ones. However, whether these sacks were handed over and stored as indicated in the decision, the CEC will provide this information, Matheva added.

 She pointed out that there are other questions that the members of the CEC can discuss. The Deputy Chairman believes that the guidelines of the Central Election Commission can be changed, as well as proposals for changes in the Electoral Code, as the letter contains suggestions that can be considered by the Central Election Commission in future elections and in the preparation of the decision for packaging. Mateva gave an example that two pig tails can be provided for the bag, so that the paper tape can be stuck between them.

 "I believe that since there is no explicit requirement in the code for the books that need to be stored until the next elections to be packaged in bags of the same kind, we may consider replacing the bags with a different type of packaging, which would be sturdier and not easily damaged," she added.

 The Commission decided to review the letter and make proposals for changes at their next meeting. The CEC also decided to send the letter to the mayor of the "Triaditza" district, with questions regarding the polling station for the collection of ballots, why blue bags were provided to the CEC, whether the bag was delivered, and if it is stored in the same room as the others. The commission decided to send the letter to the committee on constitutional and legal affairs as well, in order to address the questions regarding the necessity of legislative approvals for changes in the Electoral Code. 

 Source BTA