General Rules of Organization of Election Commissions’ Activity.
19.1 Election commissions shall function collectively;
19.2 The relevant election commission shall be assembled for its first meeting not later than 5 days after appointment of members with decisive voting right.
19.3 The Chairman of an election commission (as well as the Deputy Chairperson in the Central Election Commission) and two secretaries, shall be elected through open voting in the meeting of election commission. Until the Chairperson of the election commission is selected, or if the Chairman is absent, the oldest member of the commission shall chair its first meeting. The Chairman of the election commission shall represent the political party, deputies of which are in majority in the Milli Majlis, and the Secretaries shall each represent the political parties, deputies of which are in minority in the Milli Majlis and the independent deputies.
19.4 Election commissions shall take decisions within their authority.
19.5 Election commission’s meeting shall be convened by the chairperson, as well as upon requirement of at least one third of the commission members with decisive voting right.
Member of election commission with decisive voting right shall be obliged to participate in all meetings of the commission, except for the cases when he/she is ill and other good reasons.
In order to replace a member of the election commission with decisive voting right in cases specified in Article 19.6, replacement members nominated on the same conditions, should be appointed (elected) to election commissions along with the main members.
19.8 Members of election commissions shall be informed on conduct of a meeting of the election commission by the Chairperson of the commission 5 days before the meeting, but at least 3 days prior to the conduct of the meeting. Information about the time of the election commission’s meeting shall be given to members of the commission personally in writing or by means of electronic communication facilities. The information about time of the meeting shall be delivered within 24 hours, if less than 5 days remain to the Election Day, and on the voting day - immediately and personally.
19.9 For validation of the meeting of the election commission at least two thirds of its members with decisive voting right should be appointed.
19.10 A meeting of election commission shall be considered valid upon attendance of two thirds of the members with decisive voting right.
19.11 Any issue, raised by a request of a member of the election commission or a member of a superior election commission officially attending the meeting, and related to the authority of the commission and relevant to approved agenda, should be voted upon.
19.12 Upon requirement of one third of the commission members, any issue related to elections shall be included in agenda of the election commission based on the members’ written application addressed to the chairperson of the commission.
19.13 Minutes of all meetings of election commissions shall be taken, and all documents entering the commission shall be registered.
19.14 Decisions of election commission and minutes of its meetings shall be signed by the commission’s chairperson and secretaries. If the above persons do not sign the decisions and minutes, then they shall be signed by the commission members which voted for these documents. Minutes of meetings of an election commission shall be distributed to the commission members for approval at least 24 hours prior to the meeting (and without any delay on the Election Day) and be approved by a decision at one of the next regular meetings of the commission (this issue should be included in agendas of election commissions as the first item).
19.15 Members of the election commission not in favour with the decision made by the election commission can express their opinion in writing and the opinion shall be attached to the commission’s minutes. The special opinion should be submitted to a superior election commission within at latest 3 days, and information about the opinion should be given on the voting day or the day after without delay.
19.16 In connection with carrying out of works related to preparation and holding of elections (referenda), election commission can hire non-staff workers based on labor and civil contract, and within funds allocated from budget for the mentioned activities.
19.17 The Chairman of the election commission (including the Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission) shall allocate positions among the secretaries and members of the commission. Decision adopted by the commission chairman with this regard, can be cancelled by the election commission. Due to his position, the Chairman of the election commission shall be considered to be the head of the election commission apparatus.
