Approved by Decision 17/103
dated on July 21, 2003
of the Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan

R E G U L A T I O N
by the Precinct Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan

1. Common provisions
1.1. The Regulation is approved in accordance with Article 39.1 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and defines the rules for the conduct of sessions of the Precinct Election Commission in the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereafter referred to as PEC) in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
1.2. Sessions of the PEC shall be organized and conducted in accordance with this Regulation.
1.3. The PEC puts the issues defined by the Election Code of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan into discussion of the session within its authorities discusses them and adopts relevant decisions.

2. General rules for sessions of PECs
2.1. Sessions of PECs shall be called on the initiative of the chairman of the PECs or with the request of at least 1/3 of commissioners.
Such a request shall be on the basis of the written appeal addressed to the chairman of the PEC.
2.2. Chairman of the PEC chairs the sessions of the PEC.
2.3. Substitute members, representatives of the invited mass media and other persons can participate in the session of the PEC.
2.4. Chairman of the PEC conducts working division among commissioners.

3. Terms for the conduct of sessions of PECs
3.1. It is delivered 5 min. for reports and 3 min. for additional reports, 5 min. for the discussion of issues, 3 min. for the discussion of different document drafts, 2 min. for references, appeals and explanations in the session of the PEC.
3.2. Chairman of the PEC can extend the period for the discussion of issues on their essence.
3.3. Any issue related to elections should be included in the agenda of the session of the PEC in accordance with the written appeal addressed to the chairman of the commission with the request of 1/3 the PEC commissioners.
3.4. Sessions and minutes of sessions of the PEC shall be conducted in the national language of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

4. Preparation of the PEC sessions
4.1. Commissioners shall be made aware of the session of the PEC by the chairman of the commission 5 days before the conduct of the session, but at least 3 days prior to its conduct. Information on the date of the session should be conveyed personally to the commissioners in the written form or electron communication means.
If there are less than 5 days prior to the voting, then the information on the date of the session should be delivered within 24 hours and on the voting day immediately and personally.
4.2. The session of the PEC is considered valid when at least 4 commissioners participate.
4.3. As a rule, commission secretaries report on the issues considered in sessions of the PEC.
Chairman of the PEC can appoint a reporter from commissioners.
The reporter collects necessary documents and materials, takes necessary measures for the comprehensive, full and neutral consideration of the issue, prepares a report on the issue.

5. Postponement and putting off for another time of the session of the PEC
5.1. A person who chairs the procedure of the session of the PEC can proclaim a break. If to consider the issues included in the agenda during one working day is not possible, then a break is proclaimed in the session and it is informed on the date of continuation of the session.
5.2. In the following cases the session of the PEC can be postponed or put off for another time:
- if the number of the PEC commissioners is not sufficient;
- if to ensure the participation of the interested persons, experts or other persons in the comprehensive, full and neutral consideration of the issue is not possible;
- if documents and materials based on the issues under discussion of the session is not submitted to the PEC during the defined period, or if they are delayed;
- if there are cases hindering the comprehensive, full and neutral consideration of the issues under discussion of the session.
5.3. If the number of the PEC commissioners is less than that of specified by Article 19.10 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, then the session is postponed and a session is called for the discussion of necessary issues (within the period less than 6 days prior to the Election Day and within at least 3 hours on the voting day). If the number of participating commissioners is less than 2/3 again, then the third session is called within the less period than 6 days prior to the Election Day and within at least 3 hours on the voting day. If at least 2/3 of members do not participate in the third session, then he number of participating members is reduced to 2/3 to consider the session valid.
5.4. If the approval of the PEC decisions is not possible three times in the case specified by item # 8.6 of this Regulation during their discussion in deadline period implied by the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and preventing view diversion is not possible, then necessary vote majority is substituted by simple vote majority for the adoption of the decision.

6. Rules for the conduct of sessions of the PEC
6.1. The person who chairs sessions of the PEC:
- declares open the session and reports to commissioners on the issues under discussion in the agenda, elucidates if there are any appendixes to the agenda;
- arranges the discussion of the issues in the agenda of the session and puts them in the vote;
- gives floor to commissioners and invited persons in turns;
- ensures the observance of this Regulation by commissioners and invited persons for the speech.
6.2. If a reporter or commissioner making speech goes beyond the issues in the agenda during the speech, then the person who chairs the session shall require him/her to speak on the essence of the issue.
6.3. If a reporter or a member making speech does not observe this Regulation, then the person who chairs can stop the speech.
6.4. When the discussion of the issues in the agenda of the session ends, the person who chairs the session can declare the finish of the session.

7. Actions of the PEC commissioners in the session
7.1. The PEC commissioners can require the following:
- be informed of the conduct of the session in advance;
- be aware with the issues in the agenda of the session;
- get necessary references and reports from the PEC Secretariat;
- be aware with drafts of normative documents;
- making speeches and reports in accordance with this Regulation, participation in discussions.
7.2. Commissioners shall observe the following:
- participate in all sessions of the PEC excluding the cases of illness and other valid causes;
- function according to the working division of the chairman of the PEC;
- observe provisions of this Regulation;
- use effectively the time allocated for them to make speech;
- observe ethic norms.
7.3. The PEC commissioner investigates the service documents authorized to him/her comprehensively and returns the compiled report on the results to the PEC in the case defined by the legislation;
7.4. During the session, not observance of ethic norms by the PEC commissioners, their efforts to boycott the session, leave the meeting hall as a sign of objection and other actions like that shall be prohibited. Such actions are considered as law violation and the Constituency Election Commission is informed for taking measures.

8. Rules for the adoption of decisions and voting in sessions of the PEC
8.1. The PEC adopts decisions on issues based on its authorities by legislation.
While considering decision draft, the PEC Commissioners listen to the main and additional reporters and make discussions on the draft.
8.2. Decision draft adopted as a basis by the PEC commissioners is discussed wholly and on separate articles, if necessary amendments are made to the draft and it is put into vote.
8.3. During the voting only the PEC commissioners can make amendments to the decision draft.
8.4. In the voting, the PEC commissioner votes personally by one vote.
8.5. The PEC decisions are adopted by vote majority of 3 members when 4 or 5 members participate, by 4 members when 6 members participate.
8.6. The PEC decisions shall be published within 12 hours and enters into force since the publication.

9. Making the PEC decisions minutes of session formal
9.1. Consequence of the issue put in vote in the PEC session shall be declared by the PEC chairman and this is included in the minutes of session.
9.2. The PEC decisions and minutes of session shall be signed by the chairman and secretaries of the commission.
If the above-mentioned persons do not sign the decision or minutes, then the commissioners voted for these documents sign them.
Minutes of the PEC sessions shall be divided among commissioners at least 24 hours prior to the session (without any delay on the Election Day) and approved by the decision in one of the following sessions of the commission (this issue shall be included in the agenda of the session as a matter of primary importance).
9.3. Commissioners who are against the decision of the PEC can express their opinion in the written form and this opinion shall be attached to the minutes of session.

10. Final provisions
10.1. Proposals on making amendments and appendices to the PEC Regulation shall be considered in the session of the Central Election Commission
10.2. Amendments and appendices to the regulation shall be made by Decision of the Central Election Commission.