Approved by Decision #11/64 of
the Central Election Commission
dated on July 12, 2003

INSTRUCTION

ON RULES OF CONDUCT OF THE FIRST MEETING
OF THE CONSTITUENCY AND PRECINCT ELECTION COMMISSION

1. The election commissions shall perform their activities in a collegial form.

1.1. The relevant election commission shall call its first meeting within 5 days after its members with decisive voting right are appointed.
1.2. The chairperson and two secretaries of the election commission shall be elected through open vote at the first meeting of the election commission.
1.3. The older member of the commission shall chair either the first meeting of the commission before the chairperson of the election commission is elected, or if the chairperson is absent. Chairperson of the election commission shall represent the political party, deputies of which are in majority in the Milli Majlis, and one of the secretaries represent the political party, deputies of which are in minority in the Milli Majlis, and the other secretary shall represent the independent deputies.

2. The election commissions shall make decisions within their authorities.

2.1. A meeting of the election commission shall be called by the chairperson, as well as by request of at least one third of all members of the commission with decisive voting right.
2.2. Protocols shall be compiled for each meeting of the election commission, and all the documents received by the commission be registered.
2.3. The chairperson and secretaries of the commission shall sign decisions and minutes of meetings of the election commission. If those persons do not sign the decisions and minutes, then the commission members who voted for them shall sign these documents.
2.4. The commission member who does not agree with decision of the election commission shall have a right to express his/her own opinion in writing.
2.5. During their terms of office, the chairperson and secretaries of the election commission shall receive salary from the state budget.
2.6. Members of the election commissions cannot be detained or be subject to criminal liability or administrative measures as determined by the court, without consent of a relevant district prosecutor, during the period of elections.
2.7. Expenses of a commission member for use of all kinds of the public transport (except for taxi and ordered journeys) for traveling within the election precinct during the elections period shall be reimbursed from the funds allocated by the election commission, upon presenting the documents on traveling.
2.8. The constituency and precinct election commissions shall build their activities on regulations for the constituency and precinct election commissions, verified by the Central Election Commission.

3. Decisions of the constituency election commission shall be adopted during the meeting of the constituency election commission in the following way:

• by majority of votes of at least 6 members if attended by 9 members;
• by majority of votes of at least 5 members if attended by 8 or 7 members;
• by majority of votes of at least 4 members if attended by 6 members.
Decisions of the constituency election commission should be published within a 24 hours period and enter into force upon publishing.

3.1. Decisions of the precinct election commission shall be made as follows, during the commission’s meeting:
• by votes cast for by at least 4 members, if attended by 6 or 5 members;
• by votes cast for by at least 3 members, if attended by 4 members.
Decision of the precinct election commission should be published within at latest 12-hour period.
3.2. 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.
3.3. 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.
3.4. For validation of the meeting of the election commission at least two thirds of its members with decisive voting right should be appointed.
3.5. A meeting of election commission shall be considered valid upon attendance of two thirds of the members with decisive voting right.
3.6. 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.
3.7. 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.