During last week's special meeting of the EBU Reference Group, it was decided that the voting act should start after the last song of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 because of a special analysis showing that most of the people vote during the interval act of the show.

The European Broadcasting Union decided to change the voting act of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 when it was decided that the voting lines should be opened from the very start of the show in order to give viewers the opportunity to vote throughout the show.

After a special data analysis showing that most of the people vote after the last song was performed, the Reference Group decided to restore the voting window to a limited time during the interval act of the show. However, the full length of the voting act will be determined in another special meeting prior to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

The Reference Group consists of various European television professionals. Yuri Aksyuta (C1R – Russia), Julian Vignoles (RTÉ – Ireland) and Federico Llano (RTVE – Spain) ended their term as members of the group while Adil Kerimli (Ictimai – Azerbaijan), Maarten Verhaegen (VRT – Belgium) and Dejan Kukric (BHRT – Bosnia and Herzegovina) joined the special panel.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2012 will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan and is scheduled for May 22^nd, 24^th and 26^th.