A last element of the framework is that in some states the Constitution or the electoral law gives compulsory indications as to the period in which the decision on the date of the elections has to be made. The legitimate aim is to oblige the Head of State to make and announce his decision in due course, so that the political parties are informed in due time and can prepare their participation in the elections. Again these indications vary from state to state:

- Albania: no later than seventy-five days before the expiry of the mandate of the Assembly (Art. 7 (3) Electoral Code)
- Armenia: no later than one hundred days prior to the day of voting (Art. 117 (1) Electoral Code).
- Belarus: no later than four months prior to the expiry of the powers of the current Parliament (Art. 91 Constitution)
- Bulgaria: no later than sixty days prior to the election day (Art. 5 (1) Act on Election ofMembers of Parliament)
- France, « Les élections ont lieu le septième dimanche qui suit la publication du décret convoquant les électeurs. » Article L173, Code Electoral
- Georgia, no later than sixty days prior to the elections (Article 50 (3) Constitution and Art. 90(2) Organic law of Georgia unified election code of Georgia)
- Greece: elections within thirty days (of the proclamation of elections) (Art. 53 (1) Constitution)
- Moldova: no later than sixty days before election day. (Art. 76 (2) Elections Code)
- Montenegro: no less than sixty days and no more than 100 days shall pass between the day of calling for the election and the polling day. (Art. 14 (2) Law on election of Councillors and Representatives)
- Poland: no later than ninety days prior to expiry of four years from the beginning of the term of office of the Sejm, (Art. 9 (1) Parliamentary Law election)
- Portugal: at least sixty days in advance (Art. 19 (1) Parliament Electoral Law)
- Romania: at least sixty days before the election day (Art. 6 (1) Law N 68/1992 on the Election to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate)
- Serbia: No fewer than forty-five or more than ninety days shall pass from the date of calling for the election and the polling day (Art. 26 of the Law on the Election of members of Parliament)
- “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”: from the day announcing the elections, until the day of holding the election, a period of no more than ninety days, nor less than seventy days may pass. (Article 12, paragraph 4, Electoral Code of the Republic of Macedonia).