ELECTIONS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT OF UKRAINE, 2019 PEC members are provided with an excerpt from the minutes, stamped by the DEC, which indicate the polling station’s number, the quantity of ballots handed over to the polling station and names and signatures of PEC members who received the ballots. Employees of the National Police of Ukraine ensure protection of ballots as they are transported from DECs to PECs. Transportation is provided to the PEC premises where a ballot reception meeting commences immediately after ballots are delivered. During the meeting, the police officer stays outside of the premises where the meeting is administered. PEC members accept ballots at the commission meeting immediately upon delivery from DECs and then begin unpacking and counting the ballots followed by stamping them with the PEC seal. The PEC counts the ballots received and draws up a written statement of discrepancies. After these procedures, ballots are stored in a sealed safety box – a metal cabinet – until election day. The ballots remain under police guard until the safety box is opened at the PEC preparatory meeting on election day. 18