The Central Commission is formed with 12 persons from the citizens of the Republic of Belarus, having, as a rule, higher juridical education and experience in organizing and holding elections and referendums.

Six members of the Central Commission are appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus and six members are elected by the Council of the Republic.Candidates to the members of the Central Commission are recommended respectively to the President of the Republic of Belarus and to the Council of the Republic by joint decisions of the presidiums of regional, Minsk City Councils of Deputies and regional, Minsk City executive committees.

The Chairperson of the Central Commission is appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus upon consent of the Council of the Republic from the members of the Central Commission.The Deputy Chairperson and the secretary of the Central Commission are elected from the members of the Central Commission at its first sitting.Candidates for election to posts of the deputy Chairperson and the secretary of the Central Commission are submitted by the chairperson of the Central Commission.The candidate for the deputy Chairperson is preliminary to be agreed with the President of the Republic of Belarus.

The term of powers of the Central Commission is five years.The term of powers of the Central Commission of new membership begins from the day of its formation in legally capable membership.

The Central Commission may not include candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus and their authorized persons, candidates for the deputies and their authorized persons, candidates for the members of the Council of the Republic, deputies, members of the Council of the Republic, as well as other persons in the cases provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.Powers of a person being included into the Central Commission, in these cases are deemed to be terminated from the moment of his registration as the candidate, authorized person or from the moment of getting by that person of the status, according to which he may not be included into the Central Commission.

Members of the Central Commission being the members of political parties shall suspend their membership in the political party and within the period of work of the commission may not take part in activities of political parties, as well as fulfill their instructions.

The Chairperson, deputy Chairperson, the secretary, members of the Central Commission may be dismissed from the office prior to termination of the term of their powers by the President of the Republic of Belarus with notification of the Council of the Republic in the cases of:

written application on resignation;

termination of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus;

systematic non-execution of their obligations;

commitment of actions discrediting the Central Commission;

entering into force of the accusatory sentence of the court.

Election (appointment) of the members of the Central Commission instead of the persons retired from its membership is performed in the order established by this Article.