Positioning cameras on April 21st in the North, CEC spokesman gives details

Elez spoke of the CEC's decision to place cameras in the polls, repeating that it will be useful for other election processes whenever held.

He has provided further details on the matter.

“As far as cameras are concerned, the CEC explains that this is not a decision that involves only the voting process on April 21, 2024, but will be applied to all future election processes and several issues must be taken into account on this topic. First, the location of cameras in the north is planned during the drafting of the CEC's underground acts, more precisely with regulations no. 11-2024 for location councils and 12-2024 regulation for voting, counting and polling management. These and other regulations are not designed only for the voting process, to be held on 21 April, but also for future election processes. Second, placing cameras in polling spaces is done in order to ensure the safety of electoral materials and to preserve the integrity of the voting process and counting the vote. According to the CEC's election day assessments, at polling stations, in polling stations respectively, election processes from 2009 to 2021 have been recorded that have affected the integrity, cost and public confidence in the elections. In election processes from 2009 to 2021, more than 36 per cent of the deployments have been recounted on average, and this has contributed to increased election costs and the decline in the trust of shareholders in managing the election process. Third, even according to the procedure approved by the CEC, it is important to clarify that the location's cameras will be made fully ensuring the secrecy of the vote as they are placed at the other end where the voting booths will be, and in no circumstances will be able to register the voter's preferences. Fourth, the preservation of camera registration will be temporary, until the destruction of the election material, which under the General Election Law, is taken within 60 days by the certificate of election results. And finally, The CEC on Election Day will not monitor these cameras, so the census will take place passively, in the videotape can only be provided by decision or request of legislation institutions, the CEC, PZAP, the Prosecutor or Court, and not in other circumstances”, Elez said.