Damascus-SANA
The polling process for the local administrative council elections in all governorates has ended and the counting of votes has begun.
The head of the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections, Judge Counselor Jihad Murad, made it clear in a statement to SANA that the vote counting process in the local administrative council elections began as soon as the polling process ended, noting that the counting takes place in the presence of whoever wishes from the candidates, their agents, or the media.
Judge Murad said that the sorting includes matching the number of envelopes with the number of voters registered in the voters' register.
Judge Murad added that the ballot paper is invalid in several cases specified by law, including if it is not placed in the electoral envelope, which must be stamped with the commission’s seal, or if it appears during the opening of the envelope that there are two inconsistent ballot papers, or if there are any signs and marks on the ballot paper.
Judge Murad pointed out that the election center committee is concerned with the counting process, as the results are recorded in the election record at the end of the counting, and the candidates or their agents have the right to object and record this in the election record. It studies the objection and decides on it, and its decision is final.
Judge Murad pointed out that the announcement of the results is made by the Judicial Subcommittee in each governorate after receiving all the minutes of the electoral committees, while the Supreme Judicial Committee organizes a final report with the names of the winners and sends a copy to the Minister of Local Administration and Environment and the Minister of Interior.
Judge Murad indicated that the election process went in a proper manner and according to the procedures specified in the election law, amid an increasing participation rate by voters.
The number of electoral centers in all governorates reached 7,348, with 59,498 candidates competing for 19,086 seats.
There are 1,470 administrative units in Syria distributed over 14 governorates, 158 cities, 572 towns and 726 municipalities.
