26.1 The Chairman of Precinct Electoral Commission closes the slots of ballot box and the box for tear-off coupons, lets out all persons who have no right to be present at the session of Precinct Electoral Commission and closes the precinct center. After the implementation of these actions, the Precinct Electoral Commission starts the session to summarize the results of the voting. For that purpose the following actions are implemented:

1) unused, incorrectly marked by voters and returned ballots are calculated, canceled in the prescribed manner, and sealed;

2) the total number of voters is counted based on the lists of voters;

3) the number of voters receiving ballots is counted, based on the signatures present in the lists of voters and after that the mentioned list is sealed;

4) the ballot box is opened. 

26.2 The committee chairman takes out one ballot from the ballot box, declares loudly the validity of the ballot or its correspondence to approved specimen, and in the case of a valid ballot in favor of whom it was cast. Then the ballot is passed to other members of the committee. In case a committee member disagrees with the opinion of the chairman, the committee member presents an objection, which is voted on.

26.3 The committee chairman puts the ballot on a package of the corresponding candidate in favor of whom the ballots is voted, on <<against everybody>>, <<invalid>> or <<not corresponding to approved ballot specimen>>, based on the result of voting in case of objection, and if there is no objection, according to his declaration, then he/she takes out the next ballot from the ballot box. These actions are repeated for all ballots present in the ballot box. During the implementation of the sorting procedure, committee members are not allowed to make notes and also have with them pens, pencils and other things suitable for making inscriptions.

26.4 After sorting all ballots present in the ballot box, the committee chairman, in the presence of committee members, counts one-by-one the ballots recognized as invalid, not corresponding to the approved specimen, voted against all candidates, and also the number of votes in favor of each candidate. Based on the mentioned results, the total number of valid ballots present in the ballot box and the total number of votes given in favor of candidates is calculated.

26.5 The counted ballots are packed according to the sorting and sealed.

26.6 These actions, prescribed by the first part of this article are implemented in the sequence mentioned. Each action is implemented after the accomplishment of the previous one and the composition of a corresponding protocol. For each of these actions, a separate protocol is composed in two copies, signed by the members of committee present on the session, one copy of which is sealed with the documents on which it is based.

26.7 The protocol for summarizing the results of the voting in the precinct is composed in two copies based on data from the separate protocols.

26.8 The following is registered in the protocol, summarizing the results of voting:

1) the total number of voters, based on the lists of voters;

2) the number of voters registered and receiving ballots, based on the signatures;

3) the number of ballots given to the Precinct Electoral Commission;

4) the number of canceled ballots;

5) the total number of valid ballots corresponding to approved specimen present in the ballot box;

6) the number of ballots recognized as invalid;

7) the number of ballots not corresponding to approved specimen;

8) the number of ballots voted against all candidates;

9) the number of votes given in favor of each candidate;

10) the total number of votes given in favor of candidates.

26.9 The counted and registered numbers in the protocol are declared in a loud voice.

26.10 The protocol is signed by all committee members present at the session and stamped by the chairman of the committee. If a committee member has a special opinion on the process of voting or on the results, then he makes a corresponding note near his signature, presenting his opinion in writing, which is attached to the protocol.

26.11 Refusal to sign a protocol by a committee member is registered by the committee and adjoined to the protocol summarizing the results of the voting.

26.12 The session of the Precinct Electoral Commission cannot be interrupted from the moment of the termination of voting until the composition of the protocol summarizing the results.

26.13 Immediately after the completion of the session, the chairman makes public the results of the voting in the precinct.

26.14 Upon the request of a candidate’s proxy or an accredited foreign observer, a copy of the protocol on summarizing the results of voting is given, verified by the signatures of the chairman of the committee or the secretary and by the committee stamp.

26.15 A copy of the protocol summarizing the results of the elections in a precinct is posted in the center of a precinct in a place visible for all, after that the chairman of the Precinct Electoral Commission one copy of the protocol of summarizing the results of the voting, the box of coupons and the sealed electoral documents submits to Community Electoral Commission immediately.

Article 27. Invalid ballots

27.1 Ballots are recognized as invalid, if they voted "pro" for more than one candidate, are voted "pro" for candidate and also marked simultaneously in the line <<I am against all>>, in cases where there is only one candidate both the words "I agree" and " I disagree" are marked or left, and also ballots that bear extra inscriptions or notes.

27.2 Suspicious ballots are to be voted on by the Electoral Commission.

Article 28. Ballots not corresponding to the approved specimen

28.1 Ballots are recognized as not corresponding to the approved specimen if they do not bear the signatures of the proxies selected by the committee.

28.2 Suspicious ballots are to be voted on by the Electoral Commission.

Article 29. The procedure of summarizing the results of elections in the Community Electoral Commission

29.1 Before the counting of the coupons, the Community Electoral Commission, in the presence of proxies and persons entitled to be present at the sessions of Precinct Electoral Commission, verifies the availability of the necessary documents and the boxes with coupons, the wholeness of the seals, the meeting of the presented protocols to the corresponding demands, and makes corresponding records in the register.

29.2 The Community Electoral Commission counts the number of coupons present in the boxes received from the precincts.

29.3 The results obtained are registered in the protocol in total and according to precincts, and are issued in two copies.

29.4 The protocol is signed by all members of committee present at the session and stamped by the committee chairman.

29.5 If a committee member has a special opinion on the results of protocol, then he/she makes a corresponding note near his/her signature, presenting his opinion in writing, which is adjoined to protocol.

29.6 The refusal to sign the protocol by a committee member is registered by committee and adjoined to the protocol on counting the coupons.

29.7 After counting, the coupons are packed and sealed by precinct.

29.8 The session of the Community Electoral Commission cannot be interrupted from the moment of the end of voting until the composition of the protocol from the counting the coupons.

29.9 At the end of the session the chairman of Community Electoral Commission makes public the results of counting of coupons.

29.10 Upon the request of a proxy or accredited foreign observer he/she is given a copy of the protocol on the coupons verified by the signature of committee chairman or the secretary and the committee stamp.

29.11 The chairman of the Community Electoral Commission immediately sends the protocol on counting the coupons, the protocols summarizing the results of the voting in precincts, sealed coupons and the electoral documents received from precincts to Regional Electoral Commission.

Article 30. Procedure for summarizing the results of voting by the Regional Electoral Commission

30.1 Before summarizing the voting results, the REC, in the presence of proxies and persons entitled to be present on the sessions of the REC, verifies the availability of the necessary documents received from the Community Electoral Commissions, the meeting of the presented protocols to the corresponding demands, and makes corresponding records in the register.

30.2 The REC, based on the protocols of Precinct Electoral Commissions summarizing of the results of the voting, summarizes the preliminary data of the voting in the region: the number of votes given in favor of each candidate, and the total number of voters participating in the elections.

30.3 The preliminary results of voting are registered not later than 48 hours after the end of voting, are made public by the REC chairman, and submitted by official telegram to the CEC.

30.4 After registering the preliminary data of the voting in the region, the REC verifies the compatibility of the data of protocols of Community Electoral Commissions on counting the coupons with the data of the protocols summarizing the results of voting in each precinct.

30.5 In case of a discrepancy in those results in separate precincts, and by written request of at least four members of Regional Electoral Commission or at least two proxies of the candidates for President of the Republic the Regional Electoral Commission checks the compatibility of the data in the protocols of electoral precinct (precincts) for summarizing the results of voting with the protocols for counting the coupons of the Community Electoral Commission and with the factual data on voting. The authors of special opinions adjoined to the protocol of summarizing the results of elections of corresponding Precinct Electoral Commission and the authors of special opinions adjoined to the protocol of Community Electoral Commission on counting the coupons and the chairmen of those committees can participate in checkings.

30.6 In case discrepancies are found as a result of checking, the REC compiles a corrected protocol regarding the results of voting in the corresponding precinct, and the counting of coupons in the corresponding Community Electoral Commission, to which the initial protocols of Precinct Electoral Commission and the Community Electoral Commission are adjoined. The corrected protocol is signed by all members of committee present on the session and stamped by the committee chairman. If a committee member has a special opinion regarding the data of corrected protocols then he/she makes a corresponding remark near his/her signature, presenting his opinion in writing, which is adjoined to data of corrected protocol.

30.7 Refusal of a member of the committee to sign the corrected protocol is registered by the committee and adjoined to the corrected protocol.

30.8 After correcting the discrepancy in the results of voting in electoral precincts in cases prescribed by this article and revealing by precinct the incorrectness of the data in protocols in the manner prescribed by Central Electoral Commission and their influence on the number of votes given in favor of each candidate, the REC compiles a protocol in two copies on the summarizing of the final results of voting in region mentioning in total, and by precincts the following data: 

1) the total number of voters based on the lists of voters;

2) the number of voters who registered and received ballots, based on their signatures;

3) the number of coupons present in the box;

4) the number of ballots given to Precinct Electoral Commissions;

5) the number of canceled ballots;

6) the total number of valid ballots corresponding to approved specimen present in the boxes;

7) the number of ballots recognized as invalid;

8) the number of ballots not corresponding to approved specimen;

9) the number of ballots voted against all candidates;

10) the number of votes given in favor of each candidate;

11) the total number of votes given in favor of candidates;

12) the measure of influence of incorrectness affected the number of votes given in favor of each candidate.

30.9 The protocol summarizing the final results of the voting in the region is signed by the members of the committee present at the session and stamped by the committee chairman.

30.10 If any member of the committee has a special opinion on the results of the protocol, then they make a note near their signature and presents their opinion in writing, which is adjoined to the protocol.

30.11 Refusal of a member of the committee to sign the protocol is registered by the committee and adjoined to the protocol summarizing the final results of the voting in the region.

30.12 The protocol is signed by the members of the committee present on the session and stamped by the committee chairman.

30.13 Final results of the voting in the region are published and one copy of the corresponding protocol summarizing the results of the voting in the region are submitted personally by the REC chairman to the CEC along with all electoral documents collected in REC, but not later than 5 days from the day of voting.

30.14 Upon the request of a candidate’s proxy or accredited foreign observer, he/she is given an extract from the protocol on the summarization of the results of the voting in the region, verified by signatures of the Electoral Commission chairman or the secretary and the committee stamp.

Article 31. Summarization of results of elections by Central Electoral Committee

31.1 The CEC, based on the preliminary results received from the REC on the summarization of the results of the voting in the regions, reveals and publishes the preliminary results of elections for President of the Republic, not later than 60 hours after the accomplishment of voting.

31.2 Based on the final protocols on summarizing the results of the voting, the Central Electoral Commission in the presence of persons entitled to be present on the session composes the final protocol on summarizing the results of elections of President of the Republic mentioning in total and by regions the following data:

1) the total number of voters based on the lists of voters;

2) the number of voters who registered and received ballots based on their signatures;

3) the number of coupons present in the box;

4) the number of ballots given to Precinct Electoral Commissions;

5) the number of canceled ballots;

6) the number of valid ballots present in the boxes corresponding to approved specimen;

7) the number of ballots recognized as invalid;

8) the number of ballots not corresponding to approved specimen;

9) the number of ballots voted against all candidates;

10) the number of votes given in favor of each candidate;

11) the total number of votes given in favor of candidates.

12) the measure of influence of incorrectness affecting the number of votes given in favor of each candidate.

31.3 The protocol is signed by all members of the committee present at the session and stamped by the committee chairman. If a committee member has a special opinion regarding the voting process or the results of elections, then they make a corresponding remark near their signature, presenting their opinion in writing, which is adjoined to protocol.

31.4 Refusal of a member of the committee to sign the protocol is registered by the committee and adjoined to the protocol of the summarizing the results of the elections.

31.5 Upon request of a candidate’s proxy, he/she is given the copy of the protocol on summarizing the results of elections of the President of the Republic, verified by signatures of committee chairman and the secretary, and the committee stamp.

31.6 The CEC, based on the protocol of summarizing the results of elections for President of the Republic, makes one of the following decisions not later than within seven days from the day of elections:

1) on the election of a President of the Republic;

2) on the assignment of a second stage of elections (by-elections);

3) on recognizing an election as invalid and on not electing the President of the Republic;

4) on recognizing an election as void and on not electing the President of the Republic.

31.7 This decision is signed by all members of the committee present at the session and stamped by the committee chairman.

31.8 Refusal of a member of the committee to sign the protocol is registered by the committee and adjoined to the protocol of the summarizing the results of the elections.

31.9 Upon request of a candidate’s proxy, he/she is given the copy of the decision on the elections of the President of Republic, verified by the signatures of the committee chairman and the secretary and the committee stamp.

Article 32. Decisions of the Central Electoral Commission on the elections of President of the Republic, on designating a second round of elections

32.1 Any candidate who receives more than the half of the votes in favor of candidates is recognized as elected President of the Republic.

32.2 In case only one candidate is running, he/she is recognized as elected, if he/she has received more than the half of the votes of participants of voting.

32.3 If more than two candidates are running and none of them receive the necessary votes, then on the 14th day after the first election, a second round of voting is conducted in which the two top candidates running can participate. The candidate who receives the most votes in the second round is considered elected.

32.4 If only one candidate is running in the second round, then he/she is recognized as elected, if he/she has received more than the half of the votes of participants of voting. 

Article 33. Decision of Central Electoral Commission to recognize the elections of the President of Republic as invalid and on not electing the President of the Republic

33.1 The election of the President of the Republic is recognized as invalid in any stage of elections if: 

1) inconsistencies in the number of votes affected by incorrectness substantially affect the outcome of the election such that it is not possible to reconstruct the real result of elections and thus determine the elected candidate;

2) violations of the law transpired during the preparation and implementation of the elections that prevented the exercise of equal, direct and free election rights in a secret ballot and which could have affected substantially the results of the election.

Article 34. Decision of the CEC on recognizing the elections of the President of the Republic as void and not electing the President of the Republic

34.1 The elections of the President of the Republic are considered as void, if in the result of the elections, a President of the Republic is not elected.

34.2 The President of the Republic is not elected, if one candidate has been voted and he/she:

1) Has not received the number of votes in favor necessary for the election;

2) The candidate died before the summarizing the results of the elections.

Article 35. The official publication of the results of elections

35.1 The official communiqué on the results of the elections for President of the Republic is published by the Central Electoral Commission not later than the eighth day following the day of elections.