Approved by Decision #3/08
dated on June 21, 2003 of
the Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan

R E G U L A T I O N

by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan

1.Common provisions
1.1. The regulation defines rules for conduct of sessions of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereafter referred to as Central Election Commission) pursuant to Article 28.1 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
1.2. Sessions of the Central Election Commission shall be organized and conducted pursuant to this regulation.
1.3. Members of the Central Election Commission propose issues specified by the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for consideration in the session and adopt relevant decisions within their authority.

2. Common rules for conduct of sessions of the Central Election Commission
2.1. Sessions of the Central Election Commission shall be convened by the chairperson of the Central Election Commission or upon the request of at least 1/3 of commissioners.
Such a request must be in conformity with written report addressed to the chairperson of the Central Election Commission.
2.2. Chairperson of the Central Election Commission shall chair sessions.
2.3. Heads of structures, experts, representatives of mass media, as well as other invited persons can participate in the sessions of the Central Election Commission.
Substitute members of the Commission can observe the session of the Central Election Commission.

3. Conditions for conduct of sessions of the Central Election Commission
3.1. In the sessions of the Central Election Commission reporters shall be delivered 10 minutes, for additional report 5 minutes, for the discussion of issues 5 minutes, for the discussion of different document drafts 5 minutes, for references, statements and explanations 3 minutes.
3.2. Chairperson of the Central Election Commission can extend the period stated above for the discussion of the point of the matter according to the suggestions of commissioners.
3.3. Sessions of the Central Election Commission shall be conducted in the Azerbaijani language.

4. Preparation of sessions of the Central Election Commission
1. Members of the Commission shall be informed of sessions of the Central Election Commission by the chairperson of the Commission 5 days before, but at least within 3 days prior to the conduct of the session. Information on the date of the session of the Central Election Commission shall be delivered to the commissioners personally in written form and via electron communication means.
Information on the date of session shall be delivered within 24 hours if it is later than 5 days prior to the voting, but on the day of voting immediately and personally.
4.2. Session of the Central Election Commission is considered valid when 10 members participate.
4.3. As a rule, secretaries of the Central Election Commission report on the issues under discussion in the session.
Chairperson of the Central Election Commission can appoint reporter among commissioners.
A reporter collects necessary documents and materials, takes necessary measures for comprehensive, full and fair consideration of issues, and prepares reports on the issue.
4.4. General Department of the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission registers commissioners up to commence of sessions of the Central Election Commission, informs them of additional information and reports on this to chairperson of the Central Election Commission.

5. Delay and putting off session of the Central Election Commission
5.1. Person who chairs the procedure of the session can declare a pause. If to end issues included in the agenda is not possible during one working day, then a pause is declared and date of conduct of the session is informed.
5.2. Session of the Central Election Commission can be delayed or put off in the following cases:
- If the number of members of the Central Election Commission is not enough;
- if participation of interested persons, experts and other persons in comprehensive, full and fair consideration of the issue is not possible;
- if documents and materials based on session have not been submitted to members of the Central Election Commission during period defined by law;
- in the cases that prevent comprehensive, full and fair investigation of issues under discussion in the session of the Central Election Commission
- 5.3. If the number of members who participate in the session of the Central Election Commission is less than that noted by Article 19.10 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, then the session is delayed and following session is convened to discuss the necessary issue (within the period less than 6 days prior to the election day and at least within 3 hours on the voting day). During the following session if the number of participating members is less than 2/3, then third session is convened (within the period less than 6 days prior to election day and at least within 3 hours on the voting day). If at least 2/3 of members do not participate in the third session, then the number of members who participate for validness of the session of the Central Election Commission is decreased half-and-half.
- 5.4. If 3 times approval of decisions in the case specified by item 8.5 of the Regulation by voting in latest time specified by the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan during discussion in the Central Election Commission and preventing divergence of opinions are not possible, then vote majority necessary for the approval of the decision shall be replaced with simple majority.

6. Rules for conduct of sessions of the Central Election Commission
- 6.1.Person who chairs sessions of the Central Election Commission
- - declares the session open and reports to members of the Central Election Commission on issues included in the agenda and elucidates appendices to the agenda;
- put to the votes issues included in the agenda, organizes their discussion;
- provides the members of the Central Election Commission with chance to make speech , as well as other invited persons on condition to wait their turn;
- ensures of making speech of the members of the Central Election Commission and other invited persons by observing the Regulation.
6.2. Person who chairs session demands the reporter or the person who makes speech to speak about the main point of the issue under discussion if he/she goes beyond from the subject included in the agenda.
6.3. Person who chairs session can interrupt the speech when reporter or the person who makes speech goes beyond from the Regulation.
6.4. Person who chairs session declares end of the session after the discussion of the issues included in the agenda of the Central Election Commission.

7. Actions (behavior) of Commissioners in session
7.1. Commissioners can require the followings;
- to be informed of the conduct of session in advance;
- to be aware of the issues on the agenda of session;
- to get necessary information by Secretariat of the Central Election Commission
- to be aware of the drafts of normative documents
- to make reports and speech based on the Regulation, to participate in discussions;
7.2. Commissioners shall observe the followings:
- to participate in all sessions of the Central Election Commission excluding cases of illness and other valid reasons;
- to function according to working division appointed by the chairperson of the Central Election Commission;
-to participate in the reports regarding the issues under discussion in session
-to abide to provisions of the Regulation;
- to use the time delivered for speech efficiently;
-to observe the ethic norms.

7.3.The commissioner investigates the documents authorized to him/her comprehensively and provides General Department of the Secretariat with the reference compiled on the results in the case defined by legislation.
7.4. A commissioner’s behavior like not observing the ethic rules, efforts to disorder the session, leaving the meeting hall to show his/her objection shall be prohibited during the session. Such behavior are regarded violation of rules and the authority appointing the commissioner is informed for taking a measure.

8. Rules for voting and approval of decisions in the sessions of the Central Election Commission
8.1. The Central Election Commission approves decisions on the issues within its authority pursuant to legislation.
In the case of considering the issue under discussion the members of the Central Election Commission listen to the principal reporter as well as the subsidiary reporters and make discussions about the draft.
8.2. Draft of the document adopted as a basis by the members of the Central Election Commission is discussed wholly or on different articles, amendments are made to the draft and the draft is put to vote wholly if necessary.
8.3. During voting, only the members of the Central Election Commission can make amendments to the document draft.
8.4. A member of the Central Election Commission shall vote with one vote only and personally.
8.5. Decisions of the Central Election Commission shall be approved- if 10 members participate in the meting of the Central Election Commission, by vote majority of at least 7 persons; if 11 or 12 persons participate- by vote majority of at least 8 persons; if 13 persons participate-by vote majority of at least 9 persons; if 14 or 15 persons participate-by vote majority of 10 persons.
8.6. Decisions of the Central Election Commission shall be approved by open voting.
8.7. Decisions of the Central Election Commission enter into force since the day of their publication.

9. Adoption of decisions and approval of minutes of sessions of the Central Election Commission
9.1.Consequence of the issue put to vote in the session of the Central Election Commission shall be declared by the chairperson of the Commission and this issue is included in the minutes of the session.
9.2. Chairperson and secretaries of the Commission sign decisions and minutes of the session of the Central Election Commission. If the stated persons do not sign decisions and minutes, then commissioners voted for this document sign them.
Minutes of sessions of the Central Election Commission shall be issued to commissioners to be approved within 24 hours prior to the session (without delay on the voting day) and shall be approved by the decision in one of the following sessions of the Commission (this issue is included in the agenda of the session as the first issue).
9.3. Commissioners who do not agree with the approved decision of the Central Election Commission can express their opinion in the written form and the opinion shall be included in the minutes of the session.
9.4. Minutes of the Central Election Commission on the results of Presidential elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be approved at latest within 7 days since the voting day.
9.5. Minutes of the Central Election Commission on the results of referendum shall be approved at latest within 18 days since the voting day.

10. Final provisions
10.1. Suggestions on making amendments and appendices to the Regulation shall be considered in the session of the Central Election Commission.
10.2. Appendices and amendments to the Regulation shall be approved by Decision of the Central Election Commission.