§ Art. IV-240General Requirements to Ballot Papers in Local Elections

1. The form and color of the ballot papers for voting in each local election shall be approved by
the Central Election Commission no later than thirty days prior to the day of voting in local elections
and may not be changed until the beginning of the election process of the next ordinary elections.
 2. The text of the ballot papers for voting in the respective election districts shall be approved
by the respective territorial election commissions no later than seventeen days prior to the day of
voting. The security features of the ballot paper shall be established by the respective territorial
election commission within the same time period.
 3. The text of the ballot paper shall be printed in the official language and shall be placed on one
sheet and on one side only.
 4. A ballot paper must contain the name and the date of the local elections, or, in the event of
repeat voting, the indication “repeat voting” and the date of holding thereof; an indication of the election
district; the number of the election district (if available), as well as places designated for the number of
the election precinct and for the precinct election commission’s seal. If the technical capability is
confirmed by the respective printing enterprise, the territorial election commission may adopt a decision
to produce ballot papers with an indication of the numbers of the election precincts.
 5. A ballot paper shall contain an explanation of the procedure for filling out the ballot paper by a
voter during the voting.
 6. A ballot paper shall have a counterfoil, separated by a tear-off line. The counterfoil shall contain
the name and the date of the local election, or, in the event of repeat voting, the indication “repeat
voting,” an indication of the election district; the number of the election district (if available), as well

 

as designated places for the number of the election precinct, the number under which a voter was entered
in the voter list for the election precinct, the signature of the voter receiving the ballot paper, and the
signature of the precinct election commission member issuing the ballot paper.
 The counterfoil of ballot papers that are produced with an indication of election precinct numbers
shall contain the number of the election precinct.
 7. The territorial and precinct election commissions shall keep a precise record of ballot papers
received and delivered in accordance with this Code.
 8. The ballot papers shall, as a rule, be printed for each election precinct of each election district
in an amount exceeding by 0.5 percent the number of voters included in the voter lists for the respective
election precinct, with possible deviation from the aforementioned number resulting from how many
ballot papers can be printed on a single typographic sheet.
 The number of voters included in the voter lists at election precincts within the respective election
district shall be determined on the basis of information on the number of voters included in preliminary
voter lists at election precincts received by the respective territorial election commissions from the State
Voter Register maintenance bodies after they have compiled such voter lists.
 9. If the Central Election Commission decides to conduct an experiment or pilot project using
innovative technologies in accordance with part one of Article 18 of this Code, the Central Election
Commission shall organize the development of experimental ballots for such experiment or pilot project
simultaneously with the actions provided for in Articles 241, 242. Code.
 An experimental ballot paper developed in accordance with the first paragraph of this part shall:
 1) differ in form and color from the ballot paper, the form of which is approved by the Central
Election Commission in accordance with part one of this article;
 2) in the upper part contain in capital letters the inscription: "EXPERIMENT" or "PILOT
PROJECT";
 3) under the information specified in paragraph 2 of this part, contain the text of the following
content:
 "The completion of this ballot paper by a voter does not certify his or her expression of will, does
not create legal consequences, cannot be used to establish the outcomes or results of elections, as well
as to appeal against decisions, actions or omissions of election participants."