1. The VCC is composed of 7 members; one of its members exercises the duty of the secretary. The VCC is established in accordance with the manner and criteria provided for in article 29 of this Code for all types of elections, except for letter “ç” of point 1 of article 29 of this Code.

2. The members and the secretary of the VCC are appointed only for the period of the elections. Proposals for the VCC members and the secretary are submitted no later than 30 days prior to the election date and, in case of partial or early elections, 20 days prior to the election date. The CEAZ appoints the VCC members no later than 5 days after the submission of the proposals, when it finds that the proposal is in compliance with the requirements of articles 37 and 38 of this Code. In any case, the members and secretary are appointed no later than 20 days prior to the election date.

3. The VCC Chair and secretary are selected by the CEAZ. In those VCCs where the seventh member belongs to the main party of the parliamentary majority, a member of the VCC representing the main party of the parliamentary majority is appointed as the Chair. In the rest of the VCCs, one of the members representing the main party of the parliamentary opposition is appointed as the Chair. The VCC secretary is of the opposite political affiliation to that of the VCC Chair.

4. When the seat of a VCC member or the secretary becomes vacant, it is filled within 3 days, but no later than 24 hours prior to the opening of the polls. The replacement of members, who leaveon Election Day or do not report to work on the Election Day, is done no later than 2 hours from the notification of their absence.

5. When the VCC has no quorum due to the absence of its members and, upon the expiry of the deadline established in point 4 of this article, members have not been replaced according to point 4 of this article, the CEAZ orders the continuation of procedures and take measures to fill the vacant position on its own initiative. The VCC makes the relevant annotations in the Meeting Records Book and proceeds to carry out its duties, regardless of the quorum.

6. As a rule, VCC members and the secretary are replaced by persons who have been trained in electoral legislation.