Despite that Central Election Commission shows that number of voters in the country is 5 million, according to the web-site of the State Statistics Committee number of people above 18 years old in the country is approximately 6.8 million as of January 1, 2014. As result, it becomes known that number of voters in the final list of voters is by 1.8 million less than the number of persons which has the right to vote according to the State Statistics Committee. This was also reflected in the report of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission about recent presidential elections. In order to study the real situation in this sphere Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI) decided to conduct “Voter Registry Audit” research (VAR). VAR is a process of monitoring of quantity (real existence of a voter mentioned in the list of voters, as well as real registration of voters living in concrete addresses in the voters’ list, relevance of personal information there) and quality of voters’ registration (to what extent do the first name, surname, middle name, birth date, sex, address of voters mentioned in the list of voters coincide with information in ID card, as well as to what extent do respective information on voters, who were questioned and registered, corresponds to information reflected in the list of voters, what are the differences, etc).

VAR method is being applied by organizations independently observing and monitoring elections and is known as an objective method in the world. VAR was held on the territory of 15 election constituencies out of 125 constituencies among the randomly selected respondents. The monitoring holders visited 1,255 addresses and succeeded to conduct survey in 1,137 of them. 54.8 % of the respondents were men, 45.2% women; 10.1 % were between 18-25 years old, 19.5 % between 26-35, 17.5 % between 36-45, 26 % between 46-55 and 26.8 % above 55 years old. 62 % of them were residents of cities, 7 % - settlements and 31 % villages.

2 methods “People-to-List” and “List-to-People” methods were used during VAR.

During search of respondents’ names, who took part in “People-to-List” based survey, in the voters’ list in order to clarify whether their names are in the list or not, it became known that respective information on 81 % of 564 voters who were registered at randomly selected addresses, was reflected in the voters’ list. However, it became known that information on first name, surname and middle name of 19 % of voters was not reflected in the voters’ list. It means that 1.3 million people out of 6.8 million who are above 18 years old were not reflected in the voters’ list. During comparison of information on respondents with information in the voters’ list, it became known that information on 76.4% of respondents coincide with the one in the voters’ list, and information on 23.6 % is wrong. During clarification of existence of information on family members of the respondents it became known that 22.8 % of them are not reflected in the voters’ list.

12.7 % out of 573 voters chosen based on “List to People” principle due to different reasons could not be found on the addresses shown in the voters’ list. Election information on 95 % of 500 people (475 people) who were really found at their addresses as voters, coincides with information reflected in the voters’ list, information on remained 5 % was not the same – it became known that they were registered with some mistakes in their first names, surnames, middle names, dates of birth or their addresses.

During the survey, voters provided the below mentioned opinions to different questions:

1. To the question “Do you know whether you were registered on the voters’ list or not”, majority out of 1,064 people, in other words 81.4% answered “we know that we are on the list”. Thus, significant part of the voters (17.3 % + 1.3 % = 18.6 %) didn’t give positive answer to the question about their registration. If to compare this result with general number of voters in the country it will show that there is a deep problem in this sphere which should be addressed.

2. To the question “Why you don’t check whether your name is on the list or not”, majority of the respondents (34.3+6.1=40.4%) answered that clarification is senseless. Another significant part (17.2%) told that they don’t know where to apply to, and this shows that there is quite number of respondents, who considers that constituency commissions should take care of them. Besides that, significant part of voters – 21.2 % said that they don’t have time and 2.5 % said that the distance is far away, and that shows thatthere is quite number of respondents, who considers that constituency commissions should take care of them.

3. To the question “Where did you check whether your name was on the voters’ list or not”, 8.1 % (86 people) said in Internet, 44.2 % (470 people) in PECs, 7.6 % (81 people) in ConECs. 39.3 % (418 people) gave another answer (notification comes, I didn’t check, during previous elections, I am not interested in, etc.). As it can be seen, relative majority of the respondents checked existence of their names in the voters’ list at PECs. Among 39.3%, who gave different answers, there were those who said that they checked it during previous elections, and indirectly pointed out that they checked it in PECs. However, number of people who answered I didn’t check, I am not interested, within other answers is quite big and this shows negative attitude of voters to the elections process as in the answers to the questions 2-4.

4. Question “When did you check existence of your name in the voters’ list” was not asked from 245 people out of 1,064 people (because this question was not asked from those who said that they didn’t check it (23 %)). 6.1 % of respondents answered 1-9 months ago, 25.6 % answered 1 year ago, 2.2 % answered 2 years ago, 1.5 % answered 4 years ago, 44.2 % said during last/previous elections, 6.8 % said during presidential elections, 1.3 % said during parliamentary elections, 0.6 % said during municipal elections, 11.1 % gave other answers (don’t know exactly, never, it is meaningless, I don’t check, I don’t remember, etc.) and 0.5 % of respondents felt difficulty to answer this question. Those who gave the answer during last/previous electionscomplements Other answer with previous question and as you see clarifies it.

5. To the question “Will you check existence of your name in the voters’ list before the elections”, 38.3 % of the respondent answered “Yes”, 29.6 % % said “No”, 19.8 % said they haven’t decided yet and 12.3 % refused to answer.Thus, as it can be seen from the figures, only 38.3 % of voters is interested in the elections, remaining majority demonstrates not positive attitude in terms of the interest in the elections.

6. To the question “Do you know where to vote”, 83.7 % (891 people)out of only 1,064 people who answered the question said “Yes”, 16.1 % (171 people) said “No”. 0.2 % (2 people) felt difficulty to answer this question. If to compare 16.1 % with general number of voters it should be considered as negative index. It means that there is huge need to carry out activity on enlightenment of voters by election commissions, as well as public-political structures and mass media.

7. To the question “Have you heard any announcement about importance of participation at the elections”, 81 % (862 people), out of 1,064 people who responded, said “Yes” and 18 % (191 people) said “No”. 1 % (11 people) didn’t want to answer.

8. To the question “Where did you hear the announcement about importance of participation at the elections” only 862 respondents gave an answer. 11.1 % (96 people) said through internet, 58.1 % (501 people) said through TV, 4.5 % (39 people) said through radio and 18.9 % (163 people) said from their surroundings. 7.3 % (63 people) gave Other answers – from poster, announcement, notification, working place, I know myself. As it can be seen from the answers, among mass media TV ranks 1st and internet 2nd as main source of information for voters. 15.3 % index shows that significant part of population still prefers to obtain information not directly from information sources, but from surrounding (from people with whom he/she are in touch).

9. To the question “Do you know how many ballots you have the right to use on elections day”,  77.9 % (829 people) out of 1,064 people answered “Yes”, 6.9 % (73 people) answered “No”. 15.2 % (162 people) felt the difficulty to answer the question. As it can be seen 77.9 % gave positive answer to the question expressing that they know their right. Remaining significant part of the respondents 22.1 % (6.9 % directly + 15.2 % indirectly) doesn’t know their basic right and election procedure or doesn’t express it correctly as result of negative experience they faced.

10. To the question “Who is responsible for clarification whether your name is in the voters’ list”, 34.9 % (371 people) of 1,064 people who responded this question, said that they themselves, 25.8 % (274 people)said respective election commission, 34.3 % (365 people) said they don’t know, 2.5 % (27 people) gave other answers (executive power, government, school director). 2.5 % (27 people) felt difficulty to answer the question.

As it can be seen from the figures, 1/3 part of the voters (34.3 %+2.5 % = 36.8 %) don’t know who has the function (right) to clarify whether their name is on the list or not. The remaining part doesn’t have the common opinion. According to the law this right is direct obligation of the election commissions.

IDI Board

Baku, December 18, 2014