The present Code shall regulate relations related to the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter — the Legislative Chamber), members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter — the Senate), deputies of regional, sub-regional¹ and city Kengashes of people's deputies (hereinafter — local Kengashes) and define the guarantees that provide for freedom of expression of the citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Legislation on election consists of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the present Code and other legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be held on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Elections shall be held open and transparent.

Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber and deputies of local Kengashes are universal.

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as citizens) who have reached the age of eighteen before election day or on election day have the right to vote.

Citizens, regardless of gender, race and nationality, language, attitude to religion, social origin, beliefs, social status, education, type and nature of occupation, have equal suffrage.

Every citizen participating in the election shall have one vote.

Citizens declared legally incapable by the court, as well as persons being held in a place of detention by order of a court, may not be elected.

Citizens recognized by the court as incompetent, as well as persons held in places of deprivation of liberty by a court verdict for committing grave and especially grave crimes, may be deprived of the right to participate in elections only in accordance with the law and on the basis of a court decision. In any other cases, direct or indirect restriction of the voting rights of citizens is not allowed.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, deputies of the local Kengashes shall be directly elected by citizens.

Voting in elections is free and by secret ballot. Control over the will of voters is not allowed.

The secret ballot shall be ensured by creating appropriate conditions that exclude any possibility of control over the will of the voter.

Election commissions carry out the preparation and conduct of elections in an open and transparent manner.

Election commissions shall inform citizens about their work, formation of election constituencies, precincts, composition of election commissions, their location and working hours, familiarize them with votersʼ lists, list of political parties participating in the elections, provide information on candidates for the Presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, deputies of the local Kengashes, as well as the results of voting and elections.

Mass media shall cover the process of the preparation and the conduct of the elections.

Meetings of election commissions shall be held open. The decisions of election commissions shall be published in mass media or publicly disclosed in accordance with the procedure established by present Code.

Observers from the political parties which nominated the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, deputies of the local Kengashes, from citizensʼ self-governing bodies, representatives of media, overseas observers and observers of the international organizations have the right to be present in all events associated with the preparation and conducting of elections, at voting premises on election day and at the counting of votes.

During the entire period of the state of emergency imposed on the entire territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan or in its separate locality, elections are not held.

During the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the entire territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a single electoral constituency.

Seventy-five territorial single-member electoral districts are formed for the election of deputies to the Legislative Chamber.

Single-member electoral districts for elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber are formed by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as the Central Election Commission) on the proposal of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Kengashes of people's deputies of the regions and the city of Tashkent once every five years.

To hold elections to the Legislative Chamber based on the list of candidates nominated by political parties for deputies of the Legislative Chamber (hereinafter referred to as the party list), the entire territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a single electoral district.

The boundaries of single-member electoral districts for elections of deputies to the Legislative Chamber are determined taking into account the administrative-territorial structure of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent, as a rule, with an equal number of voters throughout the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

To hold elections to local Kengashes, electoral districts are formed in an equal number of deputy seats in the regional, Tashkent city, district (city) Kengashes of people's deputies.

In elections held to the Legislative Chamber and local Kengashes in a single-member electoral district, one deputy is elected from each electoral district.

The number of electoral districts for elections to the regional Kengash of people's deputies of a newly formed region is established by the Senate, and the number of electoral districts for elections to the district, city Kengash of people's deputies of a newly formed region, city is established by the corresponding regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies, taking into account the requirements of Article 88 of this Code.

Electoral districts for elections to the regional Kengash of people's deputies of the newly formed region are formed by the Central Election Commission on the proposal of the Senate, and electoral districts for elections to the district, city Kengash of people's deputies of the newly formed region, city - by the corresponding territorial election commission of the region and the city of Tashkent (hereinafter - territorial election commission) on the proposal of the corresponding regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies.

Single-member constituencies for elections to local Kengashes are formed by the corresponding territorial, district, city election commission, as a rule, with an equal number of voters once every five years. The boundaries of electoral districts are determined taking into account the administrative-territorial structure of the region, districts and cities.

When forming single-member electoral districts, the maximum allowable deviation of the number of voters in electoral districts, as a rule, should not exceed ten percent.

Lists of single-member electoral districts indicating their boundaries, the number of voters and the locations of election commissions are published by the relevant election commission at least seventy days before the election.

Polling stations are formed for a period of five years by territorial election commissions on the representation of district and city khokimiyats. In necessary cases, polling stations may be transformed, the boundaries of existing polling stations may be changed or abolished upon the proposal of district and city khokimiyats.

Polling stations are formed taking into account the boundaries of districts, cities, districts within cities in order to create maximum convenience for voters.

Polling stations can be formed at diplomatic and other missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, in military units, sanatoriums, rest homes, hospitals and other inpatient medical institutions, in places where citizens are located in remote and hard-to-reach areas, as well as in places of detention and imprisonment during the preparation and conduct of elections. These polling stations are included in the electoral districts at their location. The boundaries of polling stations should not cross the boundaries of other electoral districts.

In military units, polling stations are formed on the proposal of the commanders of units or military formations, in places of detention and imprisonment, polling stations are formed on the proposal of the heads of these institutions and bodies by territorial election commissions.

To hold elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and deputies of the Legislative Chamber in a single electoral district on the basis of the party list, the Central Election Commission, on the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, may establish polling stations at diplomatic and other missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries. The issue of attaching a polling station formed outside the Republic of Uzbekistan to the corresponding territory shall be decided by the Central Election Commission.

Polling stations shall be formed at least sixty days before the election, usually with a number of at least twenty voters and no more than three thousand voters. In military units, at diplomatic and other missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, as well as in places where citizens are located in remote and hard-to-reach areas, in places of detention and imprisonment, polling stations shall be formed within the same period, and in exceptional cases — no later than seven days before the elections.

The number of polling stations cannot be less than the number of districts.

The Territorial Election Commission sets the numbering of polling stations and organizes notification of voters about the boundaries of each polling station, indicating the phone numbers, the location of the relevant precinct election commission and the voting premises.

Polling stations are single for elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber and deputies of local Kengashes.

The system of election commissions includes:

Central Election Commission;

territorial election commissions;

sub-regional and city election commissions;

district election commissions for holding elections of regional and Tashkent city Kengashes of people's deputies (hereinafter referred to as district election commissions);

precinct election commissions.

Election commissions and their members shall carry out their activities independently from any state bodies, public associations and officials.

Interference in the work of election commissions is not allowed and such interference shall be subject to liability in accordance with the law.

Election commissions and their members shall be guided in their activity by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the present Code and other legislative acts.

The consideration of issues and making decisions are collectively carried out by the election commission.

The activity of election commissions are open and transparent.

Representatives of political parties, mass media, observers from citizensʼ self-governing bodies, other states and international organizations may attend the meetings of the election commission.

Election commissions take the necessary measures to ensure equal conditions for candidates and political parties to conduct the election campaign, the fair distribution of budget funds allocated for the preparation and conducting of elections, and the fairness of the voting and tabulating the elections results.

The Central Election Commission is formed by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan consisting of nine members and operates on a permanent basis. One member of the Central Election Commission is a representative of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The members of the Central Election Commission shall be elected by the Legislative Chamber and the Senate upon the recommendation of the Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent city Kengashes of people's deputies.

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan is elected for a five-year term from among its members upon the proposal of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at a meeting of the commission. The same person cannot be elected chairman of the Central Election Commission for more than two consecutive terms.

Deputy Chairperson and the secretary of the Central Election Commission shall be elected from the members of the commission at the commissionʼs meeting.

A member of the Central Election Commission shall have a relevant certificate.

The certificate of the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission and his/her deputy are signed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the certificate of other members of the Central Election Commission shall be signed by the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber and the Chairperson of the Senate.

A citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan who reached the age of twenty-five, as a rule, has a higher education, a work experience in organization and conduct of elections, has an authority among public and permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for at least the last five years may be a member of the Central Election Commission.

Citizens whose state of conviction for committing serious and especially serious crimes was not completed or not cancelled, military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, employees of the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other militarized units, professional staff of religious organizations and associations may not be members of the Central Election Commission.

A member of the Central Election Commission may not be a member of another election commission or a political party.

A member of the Central Election Commission, registered as a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a candidate for deputy of the Legislative Chamber and the local Kengash, a candidate for member of the Senate, a proxy, is considered to have resigned from the commission.

Powers of the member of the Central Election Commission may be terminated by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan directly or upon the recommendation of the body which nominated him/her to membership, in the following cases:

submission by him/her of a written application for resignation;

he/she was recognized by the court as incapable;

entry into force of the court's sentence against him/her;

systematic failure to perform his/her duties;

election or appointment to a position, the occupation of which in accordance with the law is incompatible with the exercise of the powers of a member of the Central Election Commission;

recognition of him/her as missing or declaring dead on the basis of a court decision that has entered into legal force;

loss of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan or renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

his/her death.

A new member of the Central Election Commission shall be elected in accordance with the procedure established by the present Code.

Members of the Central Election Commission cannot engage in other types of paid activities, except scientific, creative and pedagogical.

Members of the Central Election Commission are subject to the rules on immunity applicable to members of the Legislative Chamber, members of the Senate.

Central Election Commission shall:

organize the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies to local Kengashes;

head the system of election commissions, exercise control over the implementation of this Code throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and ensure its uniform application;

announce the beginning of the election campaign for the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, local Kengashes;

provide methodological support for the activities of election commissions, within the limits of its powers, adopt resolutions, approve instructions and regulations, give explanations on issues of organizing elections;

provide general management and coordination of activities for the implementation of the Election Process Management Information System and the use of the Single electronic list of voters of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as the Single electronic list of voters);

form electoral districts for the elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber;

resolve issues regarding the assignment of polling stations formed at diplomatic and other missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries to the relevant territory;

form territorial election commissions, assign the corresponding territory (district) to them and publish information about the composition and location of territorial election commissions;

announce elections of deputies of local Kengashes in the newly formed administrative-territorial units;

form electoral districts for holding elections to the regional Kengash of People's Deputies in the newly formed region;

organize training for members of election commissions and other participants in the electoral process;

make a decision on the early termination of the powers of a deputy of the Legislative Chamber and a member of the Senate on the grounds established by law;

determine the procedure for making changes to the composition of election commissions;

cancel independently or on the proposal of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan the decisions of election commissions in cases where these decisions contradict this Code;

issue mandates to observers of foreign states and international organizations in elections;

develop and approve cost estimates for the preparation and conduct of elections, distribute funds to election commissions, including financing the participation of political parties in elections, control the provision of election commissions with premises, transport and communications, consider other issues of logistical support for elections;

establish a sample mandate for observers from political parties, self-government bodies of citizens, representatives of the mass media, observers from other states, international organizations;

on the basis of the submitted documents, make a decision on the admission of political parties to participate in elections;

accept relevant documents from political parties nominating candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and candidates for deputies of the Legislative Chamber;

register, in the prescribed manner, nominated candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and deputies of the Legislative Chamber, as well as the party list and organize the publication of information about them in the press;

issue certificates to registered candidates, including candidates based on the party list;

register proxies of candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and issue them certificates;

provide equal conditions for participation in elections for candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and candidates for deputies of the Legislative Chamber, as well as for political parties;

establish samples and forms of ballots for elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, members of the Senate and deputies of local Kengashes, voter lists, signature sheets, protocols of election commissions and other documents, ballot boxes and seals of election commissions, determine the procedure for their storage;

establish the procedure for the production and delivery of ballots to polling stations;

hear reports from representatives of election commissions, political parties, ministries, state committees and departments, local government bodies, other government bodies and public associations on issues related to the preparation and conduct of elections;

summarize the results of the elections, establish the results of voting in the Republic of Uzbekistan as a whole and publish in the press a message on the number of voters who took part in the vote, the number of votes cast for each candidate and political party;

in cases provided for by this Code, organize the holding of repeat elections and elections in place of retired deputies of the Legislative Chamber, local Kengashes or members of the Senate, as well as repeat voting and repeat elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

register elected deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate, and also publish their lists in the press and other sources;

convene the first post-election meeting of the Legislative Chamber, the Senate;

hand on to the elected person a certificate on election as the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

issue to a deputy of the Legislative Chamber and a member of the Senate a certificate and badge, respectively, of a deputy of the Legislative Chamber and a member of the Senate;

consider appeals from voters and other participants in the electoral process, with the exception of complaints about the actions and decisions of election commissions, and make decisions on them;

submit materials on violations of the requirements of this Code to the court or law enforcement agencies;

carry out international cooperation with election authorities of other countries, international organizations and representatives of foreign states, organize meetings, conclude agreements and memorandums;

participate in election observation in foreign countries, including as part of missions of international organizations;

invite international organizations, election authorities and representatives of foreign states to observe the elections;

ensure the transfer of documents related to the organization and conduct of elections to departmental archives;

approve the Regulation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

strengthen and develop relations with public and the mass media;

exercise other powers provided for by this Code and other laws.

Chairperson of the Central Election Commission shall:

carry out the administration of the activity of the Central Election Commission;

call meetings of the Central Election Commission, preside over them, distribute functions among members of the Commission;

invite representatives and officials of state bodies, political parties and other public associations, organizations to participate in meetings of the Central Election Commission;

act on behalf of the Central Election Commission in relations with the state bodies, international organizations and public associations;

present information to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on outcomes of the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

sign the resolutions and other documents of the Central Election Commission;

distribute the funds allocated from the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for provision of the activities of the Central Election Commission and controls their purposeful use;

open the first meeting of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate respectively, and preside over it until the election of the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber and the chairperson of the Senate.

If the chairperson of the Central Election Commission is unable to execute his/her powers, as well as, in case of absence of the chairperson, the functions of the chairperson are assigned to deputy chairperson or one of the members of the Commission by the decision of the Central Election Commission.

The organizational form of the Central Election Commission's work is its meetings, which shall be held upon necessity. A meeting shall be valid if it is attended by at least two thirds of the total number of members of the Commission.

Decisions of the Central Election Commission shall be taken by open vote by the majority of votes of the total number of members of the Commission. In case of equal division of votes, the vote of the chairperson of the Central Election Commission shall be decisive.

At the meetings of the Central Election Commission a protocol shall be kept and signed by the chairperson and secretary of the Central Election Commission.

Members of the Central Election Commission have the right to express their special opinion, which shall be attached to the protocol in written form.

Within the limits of its powers the Central Election Commission shall adopt resolutions, which shall be signed by the chairperson of the Central Election Commission.

Resolutions of the Central Election Commission shall enter into force from the moment of its adoption and shall be published on the official website of the Central Election Commission on the same day as well as on other sources, if it is necessary.

Decisions made by the Central Election Commission within the limits of its powers shall be binding on election commissions, government bodies, political parties and other public associations, enterprises, institutions and organizations.

A Secretariat of the Central Election Commission shall be established to support the activities of the Commission.

The structure, staff and work procedure of the Secretariat shall be approved by the chairperson of the Central Election Commission.

The procedure of the Central Election Commission's activity shall be determined in its Regulation adopted at the meeting of the Central Election Commission.

Candidates for members of territorial election commissions shall be discussed at meetings of regional and Tashkent city Councils of People's Deputies and recommended to the Central Election Commission for approval.

The Central Election Commission shall form territorial election commissions at least eighty days before the election, consisting of the chairman, deputy chairman, secretary of the commission and twelve to eighteen other members of the commission.

Candidates for members of sub-region and city election commissions shall be discussed at meetings of district and city Councils of People's Deputies and recommended to the territorial election commission for approval.

The territorial Election commission shall form sub-region and city election commissions at least seventy-five days before the election, consisting of the chairman, deputy chairman, secretary of the commission and eight to eighteen other members of the commission.

In newly formed administrative-territorial units, the territorial election commission is formed by the Central Election Commission on the recommendation of the Senate, and sub-region and city election commissions are formed by the territorial election commission on the recommendation of the relevant regional, Tashkent city Kengash of People's Deputies at least sixty days before the elections and exercise their powers until the announcement of the start of the next election campaign.

Territorial, sub-region, city election commissions publish information on their composition, address and telephone numbers of the commission on official websites and in printed publications.

Territorial Election Commission shall:

organize in the relevant territory the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, local Kengashes;

exercise control over the implementation of this Code in the relevant territory, ensure its uniform application and provide explanations on the organization and conduct of elections;

form electoral districts for elections to the regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies, assigns them names and numbers, publish boundaries, the number of voters, a list of electoral districts and information about the location of the election commissions of these districts;

form sub-regional, city and district election commissions and publish information about their composition and location;

manage the activities of the relevant sub-region, city, district and precinct election commissions;

form electoral districts for elections to the district, city Kengash of People's Deputies of the newly formed district, city;

form polling stations, determine their serial number in the district, publish their list indicating their addresses;

inform voters about the location of polling stations;

form precinct election commissions and publishes information about their composition;

direct the work of sub-region, city, district and precinct election commissions, can independently or on the proposal of the regional, district, city prosecutor cancel their decisions in cases where these decisions contradict this Code;

register in the prescribed manner nominated candidates for deputies of the regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies and organize the official publication of information about them;

issue certificates to registered candidates;

provide candidates and political parties with equal conditions for participation in the election campaign;

register proxies of candidates for deputies of the Legislative Chamber and deputies of the regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies, and issues them the appropriate certificates;

ensure the publication of the biography and main directions of the programs of registered candidates for deputies and delivery to the polling stations;

accredit representatives of local mass media covering elections at the level of the region, the city of Tashkent, and issue the appropriate certificate;

register observers of political parties and citizens' self-government bodies;

distribute funds to the relevant election commissions, control the provision of election commissions with premises, transport and communications, considers other issues of logistical support for elections;

ensure the production of ballot papers for elections to the regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies, protocols of election commissions, its seal, and other election documents;

hear reports from representatives of political parties, other public associations, local government bodies, self-government bodies of citizens and heads of enterprises, institutions and organizations on issues related to the preparation and conduct of elections;

summarize the results of the elections to the regional, Tashkent city Kengash of People's Deputies, register elected deputies, publish in the press reports on the results of the elections and lists of elected deputies;

issue to deputies a certificate and badge of a deputy of the regional, Tashkent city Kengash;

organize repeat elections of deputies of the regional, Tashkent city Kengash, as well as elections of deputies to replace those who retired;

consider appeals from voters and other participants in the electoral process, with the exception of complaints about the actions and decisions of election commissions, and make decisions on them;

submit materials on violations of the requirements of this Code to the court or relevant law enforcement agencies;

ensure the transfer of documentation related to the organization and conduct of elections to archives and departmental archives;

establish and transmit to the Central Election Commission the results of elections in the relevant territory for the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber;

inform the corresponding regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies about the results of elections to the regional, Tashkent city Kengash of people's deputies;

report to the Central Election Commission on the results of the elections to local Kengashes.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Karakalpakstan exercises the powers of territorial election commissions provided for by this Code related to the preparation of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and deputies of the Legislative Chamber and their conduct on the territory of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

Sub-region, city election commission shall:

organize in the relevant territory the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber and local Kengashes;

exercise control over the implementation of this Code in the relevant territory, ensure its uniform application and provide explanations on the organization and conduct of elections;

form electoral districts for holding elections to the district and city Kengash of People's Deputies, assign them names and serial numbers, announce a list of electoral districts indicating the boundaries and number of voters;

coordinate the activities of precinct election commissions;

cancel independently or on the proposal of the district or city prosecutor the decisions of precinct election commissions in cases where these decisions contradict this Code;

accept relevant documents from political parties nominating candidates for deputies of the district and city Kengash of People's Deputies;

register nominated candidates for deputies of the district and city Kengash of people's deputies and issue them certificates;

ensure the publication of the biography and main directions of the programs of registered candidates for deputies and delivery to the polling stations;

provide candidates and political parties with equal conditions for participation in the election campaign;

register proxies of candidates for deputies of the district and city Kengash of People's Deputies and issue them the appropriate certificates;

control the provision of precinct election commissions with premises, transport and communications, consider other issues of logistical support for elections;

ensure the production of ballot papers for elections to the district and city Kengash of People's Deputies, protocols of election commissions, its seal, and other election documents;

hear reports from representatives of political parties, other public associations, local government bodies, self-government bodies of citizens and heads of enterprises, institutions and organizations in the territory of the relevant district or city on issues related to the preparation and conduct of elections;

control the compilation of voter lists and their presentation to the public;

provide precinct election commissions with ballot papers;

establish the results of elections by electoral districts in the elections to the district, city Kengash of People's Deputies;

summarize the results of the elections to the district and city Council of People's Deputies, register elected deputies, publish in the press reports on the results of the elections and lists of elected deputies;

issue to deputies a certificate and badge of a deputy of the district, city Kengash;

organize repeat elections of deputies of the district and city Kengash, as well as elections of deputies to replace those who retired;

consider appeals from voters and other participants in the electoral process, with the exception of complaints about the actions and decisions of precinct election commissions, and make decisions on them;

submit materials on violations of the requirements of this Code to the court or relevant law enforcement agencies;

ensure the transfer of documents related to the organization and conduct of elections to archives and departmental archives;

provide information to the relevant district and city Kengash of peopleʼs deputies about the results of elections to the district and city Kengash of peopleʼs deputies;

report to the territorial election commission on the results of elections to the district and city Kengash of people's deputies.

The district election commission is formed by the relevant territorial election commission at least seventy days before the elections, consisting of a chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and six to eight other commission members.

Members of district election commissions are approved on the recommendation of district and city Kengashes of people's deputies.

Members of the district election commission are appointed from among authoritative representatives of the public.

District election commission shall:

exercise control over the implementation of this Code in the relevant territory;

coordinate the activities of precinct election commissions;

provide equal conditions for candidates to participate in the election campaign;

observe the compilation of voter lists and their presentation to the public;

establish and transmit to the relevant territorial election commission the election results for the electoral district;

organize repeat elections, as well as elections of deputies to replace those who retired;

consider appeals from voters and other participants in the electoral process, with the exception of complaints about the actions and decisions of election commissions, and make decisions on them.

Precinct election commission is formed by the relevant territorial election commission no less than forty days before the elections, consisting of five to nineteen members, including a chairman, deputy chairman and secretary.

If the commission is formed of up to seven people, then the chairman and secretary shall be approved.

If necessary, the numerical composition of a precinct election commission may be changed by the Central Election Commission in the prescribed manner.

At the diplomatic and other representative offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, the functions of chairperson of precinct election commission shall be performed by the head of that representative office.

Candidates for members of the precinct election commission are proposed by citizens' self-government bodies, public associations, enterprises, institutions and organizations, which are discussed at meetings of district and city Kengashes of people's deputies and recommended for approval by the relevant territorial election commission.

Precinct election commission shall:

organize the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, local Kengashes;

determine and approve the list of voters for the precinct;

introduce voters with a list of voters, accept and consider applications on errors and inaccuracies in the list, and resolve the matter of making appropriate changes to the list;

accept ballots in closed envelopes filled out by voters who are unable to be at their place of residence on election day and participate in voting;

inform the population about election day and voting place;

provide preparation of the premises with booths or rooms for secret ballot and ballot boxes, as well as other equipment;

organize voting at the polling station on election day;

organize vote counting;

consider the appeals of voters and other participants of the election process, and make decisions on them.

Members of the election commission, carrying out their activities on a voluntary basis, cannot be dismissed at the initiative of the employer or transferred to another job without their consent during the period of preparation and conduct of elections.

Members of the territorial, sub-regional, city election commission, district and precinct election commission may be citizens who have reached the age of twenty-one, have secondary or higher education, as a rule, work experience in preparing and conducting elections, and enjoy authority among the population.

Members of the territorial, sub-regional and city election commissions, district and precinct election commissions cannot be:

deputy of the Legislative Chamber, deputy of the local Kengash, member of the Senate;

members of another election commission;

members of political parties and authorized representatives;

khokims of regions, districts and cities and their deputies;

officials of the prosecutor's office, courts;

candidates, close relatives and proxies of candidates;

persons who are directly subordinate to candidates;

citizens who have an outstanding or unexpunged conviction for serious or especially serious crimes.

Based on the decision of the Central Election Commission, up to three members of the territorial election commission work in the commission on a permanent basis, the remaining members on a voluntary basis.

Members of the sub-region and city election commissions work on a voluntary basis.

Members of the territorial election commission who work on a permanent basis cannot engage in other types of paid activities, except for scientific, creative and pedagogical activities.

More than half of the members of the precinct election commission cannot be recommended from one organization, with the exception of precinct election commissions formed at diplomatic and other missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, in military units, sanatoriums and rest homes, hospitals and other inpatient medical institutions, places of detention and imprisonment.

A member of the election commission registered as a candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber and local Kengashes or an authorized representative is considered to have retired from the election commission.

The powers of a member of an election commission may be terminated by the body that created the election commission directly or upon the recommendation of the body that recommended him in the following cases:

submitting a written application for resignation;

recognition by the court as incompetent;

the entry into force of a court conviction against him;

systematic failure to fulfill his duties;

electing or appointing him to a position, the occupation of which is, by law, incompatible with the exercise of the powers of a member of the election commission;

recognizing him as missing or declaring him dead on the basis of a court decision that has entered into legal force;

loss of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan or renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

his death.

If necessary, a new member of the election commission shall be elected in the manner established by this Code.

A meeting of the election commission shall be valid if at least two thirds of the total number of members of the commission participate in it on the day of the meeting. The decision of the commission is taken by an open vote by a majority vote of the total number of members of the commission. Members of the commission who disagree with its decision have the right to express a dissenting opinion, which is attached to the protocol in writing. In the event of a split vote, the chairman's vote is decisive.

In accordance with the decision of the Central Election Commission, the provision of documents to election commissions by participants in the election process, the adoption of decisions by election commissions, as well as other processes related to the organization and conduct of elections, can be carried out in electronic form.

The procedure for office work in territorial, sub-region, city, district and precinct election commissions is determined by the Central Election Commission.

The decision of the election commission, taken within the limits of its powers, is binding for execution by lower election commissions, as well as all government bodies, political parties and other public associations, labor collectives and military units, heads of enterprises, institutions and organizations.

A member of the commission working on a voluntary basis, by decision of the election commission, may be released from performing production or official duties during the preparation and conduct of elections while maintaining the average monthly salary.

The members of the territorial, sub-region, city, district and precinct election commissions have the appropriate certificate in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission.

State bodies and bodies of public associations, enterprises, institutions, organizations, officials are obliged to assist election commissions in the exercise of their powers and provide information necessary for their work.

State bodies, enterprises, institutions, and organizations are obliged to make available to election commissions, free of charge, the premises and equipment necessary for the preparation and conduct of elections.

The election commission has the right to address issues related to the preparation and conduct of elections to state bodies and bodies of public associations, enterprises, institutions, organizations, officials who are obliged to consider the question raised and give the election commission a response no later than three days.

District and precinct election commissions cease their activities, respectively, after summarizing the results of the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, registration by the Central Election Commission, territorial, sub-region and city election commissions of deputies elected in the corresponding electoral districts.

The voter list includes citizens who have reached eighteen years of age by or on the day of elections, permanently or temporarily residing at the time of compiling the list in the territory of a given polling station.

Every voter can be included in only one voter list.

Voter list shall include surname, first name, patronymic, date of birth and home address of each voter.

Voter lists shall be made based on data of Information system on formation of a Single electronic list of voters.

Lists of military personnel in military units, as well as members of the families of military personnel and other voters, if they live in the areas of military units, shall be made on the basis of data provided by the commanders of military units. Military personnel residing outside the military units are included in the voter lists at the place of residence on a common basis.

Voter lists on polling stations, formed in sanatoriums and resorts, hospitals and other permanent medical institutions, in places of detention and imprisonment, are made on the basis of information provided by the heads of these institutions.

Voter lists at polling stations formed at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries are compiled on the basis of data provided by the heads of these institutions.

Precinct election commissions formed at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries inform citizens in foreign countries about the method, place and time of familiarization with the voter lists.

Citizens in foreign countries can apply in writing to precinct election commissions formed at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, or electronically through the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan to be included in the voter list for fifteen days before the election.

Precinct election commissions formed at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries check the personal data specified in the applications of citizens in foreign countries about their inclusion in the voter list and decide on the inclusion of a citizen in the voter list.

Precinct election commissions formed at diplomatic and other missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries immediately submit information about citizens included in the voter list to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan immediately submits information about citizens included in the voter list to the authorized state body in the field of personal data to make appropriate amendments to the Single Electronic Voter List.

Single electronic list of voters is a state information resource, containing information about voter citizens, their permanent and temporary residence addresses in accordance with the databases of competent state bodies.

The Single electronic list of voters is formed and updated on the basis of information provided by authorized state bodies, as well as specified by election commissions.

Each precinct election commission within three days after its formation receives the preliminary list of voters allocated in the Single electronic list of voters.

After receiving the preliminary list of voters, precinct election commission shall take measures to identify the population living in the territory of the polling station by the way of a door-to-door visits.

Precinct election commission may involve public representatives to participate in identifying of voter lists. Sub-regional and city khokimiyats shall assist in identifying lists of voters.

In accordance with the results of door-to-door visits of the population, election commissions can make changes to the voter lists, adjusting the surname, name, patronymic, date of birth and address of residence of the voter in a Single electronic list of voters.

Voter list shall be made by precinct election commission on each polling station and shall be signed by its chairperson and secretary.

On election day, polling stations shall use voter lists from a Single electronic list of voters.

Citizens will be provided with the opportunity to get acquainted with voter lists in the building of precinct election commission, as well as with the relevant information from voter list related to them on the official website of the Central Election Commission. Citizens in foreign countries are provided with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with data concerning them from the voter list also through the official websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign states.

The lists of voters shall be made available to the public fifteen days before the elections, and at polling stations established under diplomatic and other representative offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign States, in sanatoriums and resorts, hospitals and other permanent medical institutions, in places of residence of citizens located in remote and inaccessible areas, in places of detention and imprisonment, three days before the elections.

In the premises of the precinct election commission, the list of voters is presented in a convenient way for everyone to familiarize themselves with. Such a list indicates only the last name, first name, patronymic and year of birth of voters.

Precinct election commission shall notify the place and time for getting acquainted with the list.

Election commissions may also make changes to voter lists after they are presented to public.

Making changes to voter lists shall be terminated five days before elections.

Everyone can appeal to precinct election commission on a mistake or inaccuracy in voter lists. Precinct election commission shall be obliged to consider the appeal within 24 hours and either eliminate a mistake or inaccuracy, or provide a reasonable respond to applicant on rejection of the appeal.

Actions and decisions of the precinct election commission can be appealed to the court.

The form and text of the ballot for the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and deputies of the Legislative Chamber are approved by the Central Election Commission.

A sample form and text of a ballot for elections to local Kengashes is approved by the Central Election Commission.

The last name, first name and patronymic of the candidate are entered in alphabetical order on the ballot paper, indicating the year of birth and the political party that nominated him as a candidate.

The name and symbols of the political parties participating in them are entered on the ballot for the election of deputies of the Legislative Chamber in a single electoral district sequentially in accordance with the order in which they were admitted to participate in the elections.

The ballot paper must contain an explanation of the procedure for filling it out.

Ballots are printed in the state language, and also, by decision of the relevant territorial, sub-region and city election commission, in the languages used by the majority of the population of the relevant area.

Stencils can be made based on Braille to fill out ballots.

Precinct election commissions receive ballots from sub-region and city election commissions no later than three days before voting day, including early voting. The chairman or deputy chairman or secretary of the sub-region, city and precinct election commission confirms the issuance and receipt of ballot papers with his signature on the relevant document.

Based on the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the number of voters at polling stations established at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, the Central Election Commission ensures the production and delivery of ballots.

The number of ballots received by the precinct election commission cannot exceed the number of voters included in the lists of the polling station by more than half a percent. In the upper right corner of the ballot paper the signatures of two members of the precinct election commission shall be placed, which shall be certified by the seal of the precinct election commission. Ballots that not certified by the precinct election commission shall not be taken into account when counting votes.

Observers from political parties, citizensʼ self-governing bodies, as well as from other states and international organizations shall carry out their activities on the basis of mandates granted by respective commissions.

Interested organizations shall inform election commissions on their observers at least ten days before election.

Within five days after receipt of an application from an interested organization, election commission issues a mandate for an observer. Mandates for observers from other countries, international organizations are issued by the Central Election Commission.

Observers shall have the following rights:

to be present at meetings of election commissions;

to participate in meetings to nominate candidates, meetings of candidates and political parties (representatives) with voters;

to be present at the polling station, to observe the progress of the preparatory work, the placement of booths or rooms for secret voting and the sealing of ballot boxes, the registration of citizens, the issuance of ballots;

to be present at counting of votes and drafting the Protocol of the election commission;

to request and receive copies of documents related to election results approved by the relevant election commission;

to report their observations to the relevant election commission, if there is reason to believe that at the relevant polling station there have been violations of the requirements of the present Code.

Observers are prohibited from:

being present in a booth or room of a secret ballot when voter marks his/her ballot paper;

influencing citizens, distributing any agitation material or literature;

asking voters how they voted, or providing any assistance to voters in marking ballot paper;

interfering in the work of election commissions, including sealing of ballot boxes, their opening and counting of votes.

Observers must notify the precinct election commission at least three days before visiting polling stations formed in military units, places of detention and imprisonment.

Political party which has nominated candidates to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, candidates for deputies of the Legislative Chamber and candidates to local Kengashes shall have the right to appoint an authorized representative to attend the meetings of election commission, submit documents, to check the correctness of signature lists, and participate in the counting of votes at the polling station.

Authorized representatives of political parties shall be obliged to present a document proving their identity, a document issued by a political party and the mandate of the respective election commission.

Representatives of the mass media have the right to cover all events related to the preparation and conduct of elections, to be present at voting premises on election day, including being present at the counting of votes.

The powers of mass media representatives must be confirmed by documents issued by the Central Election Commission, territorial, sub-region and city election commissions.

Mass media representatives from other countries are accredited by the Central Election Commission.

The beginning of the election campaign for the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber and deputies of local Kengashes is announced by the Central Election Commission in the media no later than three months before the expiration of their term of office, with the exception of cases provided for in Articles 66 and 74¹ of this Code.

Right to nominate a candidate for Presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a candidate for deputy of the Legislative Chamber and a candidate for deputy of local Kengashes belongs to political parties.

On the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the deputies of the Legislative Chamber the Central Election Commission shall issue blanks of signature sheets of established samples for political parties.

In the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a political party has the right to collect signatures of voters only after a decision has been made on its admission to participate in the elections. Signatures collected before this date will not be counted.

Voters have the right to sign in support of one or more political parties or nominated candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this case, the voter indicates his last name, first name, patronymic, year of birth (at the age of eighteen - additionally the day and month of birth), address of residence, series and number of the passport or ID card, as well as the date of signature. The specified information is entered in handwriting. Information about the voter who puts his signature on the signature sheet may, at his request, be entered by the person collecting signatures.

Signature sheet shall be signed by the person collecting signature, indicating his/her surname, name and patronymic, and shall be sealed by the head of the sub-regional or city structure of the respective political party.

The collection of signatures of voters shall be carried out at the place of work, service, study, residence, at election events, as well as in other places where campaigning and collecting signatures are not prohibited by law. Any form of coercion and bribery of voters by the person collecting signatures shall entail liability established by law.

After completion of the collection of signatures, the authorized representative of the political party shall submit to the Central Election Commission the signatures sheets which shall be separately sewn for the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent city.

Central Election Commission shall examine the correctness of filling of signature sheets submitted by political parties in a five-day period. At least fifteen per cent of the required number of signatures of voters and relevant information on voters who have signed the subscription lists are subject to examination.

The same number of votersʼ signatures collected in support of each political party or candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be selected for examination by sampling in an equal ratio from each administrative-territorial entity (Republic of Karakalpakstan, region, city of Tashkent).

Central Election Commission may form an expert group, which checks that the signature sheets are correctly filled. The expert group includes experts of internal affairs bodies, justice bodies, as well as representatives of civil society institutions. Authorized representatives of political parties shall participate in the examining of signature sheets.

If, during a random examination by the Central Election Commission of more than a quarter of the signature sheets, it is revealed that the signature sheets were compiled in violation of the law, these signature sheets shall be returned to the authorized representative of the political party, and he shall be given a two-day period for the elimination of the deficiencies. If the number of signatures of supporters (voters) again turns out to be less than the established minimum number, these signature sheets shall be declared invalid in full. In this case, the Central Election Commission denies a political party the registration of a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan or the right to participate in the elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber.

Candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and for deputies of the Legislative Chamber nominated in single-member electoral districts are registered by the Central Election Commission, and the registration of candidates nominated for deputies of local Kengashes is carried out by the relevant territorial, sub-region and city election commissions.

The registered person shall be issued a registration certificate.

Registration of candidates shall be completed thirty-five days prior to election.

Within five days after the registration of candidates the relevant election commission shall publish a notice of registration indicating the name, surname, patronymic, year of birth, party affiliation, position (occupation), place of work and residence, as well as the political party that nominated the candidate.

The party list shall be registered by the Central Election Commission. Relevant documents for registering a party list shall be submitted by an authorized representative of a political party to the Central Election Commission at least seven days before the end of the registration period.

Registration of the party list in accordance with the established procedure shall be completed thirty-five days before the elections.

The party list shall indicate candidatesʼ surnames, first names, patronymics, dates of birth, professions, positions (occupations), places of work and residence, party affiliation, personal identification numbers of individuals.

The Central Election Commission, within five days after registering the party list in the prescribed manner, shall publish a notice of registration indicating the name of the political party, surnames, first names, patronymics, dates of birth, positions held (occupation), places of work and residence of registered candidates.

After registering the list of parties in the prescribed manner, those included in this list acquire the status of candidate for deputy and they are issued certificates.

Introducing amendments to the registered list of the party shall not be allowed, except in cases provided for in Article 42¹ of this Code.

All registered candidates and political parties participating in elections have equal rights.

Candidates, representatives of political parties for the period of meetings with voters, speeches at pre-election meetings, on television and radio have the right to be released from performing work or official duties while maintaining an average salary.

Candidates after registration have the right to free travel on all types of public passenger transport (except for city passenger transport, taxis and registered flights of other modes of transport) within the constituency, and candidates for Presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan — within the Republic of Uzbekistan. A candidate residing outside the constituency has the right to free travel to get to the constituency and return to his/her place of residence.

Business trips and other expenses of the candidates shall be paid at the expense of funds allocated for elections.

Candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan may not be prosecuted, arrested or subjected to administrative penalties imposed on them without the consent of the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In case of such consent is given, the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall notify the Central Election Commission immediately.

It is not allowed to coerce, as well as inspect personal belongings, luggage, transport, residential and office space of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A political party has the right, no later than fifteen days before the elections, to cancel its decision to nominate a candidate as a candidate, including on the party list, who may be deprived of candidate status by the relevant election commission. Before the expiration of the deadline for nominating candidates, a political party may submit a proposal to the relevant election commission to register a new candidate.

The termination of a political party deprives the candidate of the right to participate in elections from that party.

The candidate may withdraw its candidacy at any time before the election. To do this, he/she shall apply to the relevant election commission.

In case of death, deprivation of voting rights or recall of a candidate before the elections, the line with the candidate's surname, name and patronymic is crossed out in the printed ballots. The votes cast for such a candidate during the early voting process are considered invalid by the precinct election commission during the counting of votes.

Candidates included in the party list may be excluded from this list on the following grounds:

1) based on the application of the candidate at his own request;

2) in the event of a candidateʼs voluntary withdrawal from membership of a political party;

3) when the candidate's status is revoked in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 42 of this Code;

4) in case of occurrence of the grounds provided for in part two of Article 71 of this Code;

5) when identifying the nomination of a candidate also on the list of another party;

6) when it is established that the candidate is a member of another political party;

7) in case of death of the candidate;

8) when identifying the nomination of a candidate also in a single-member electoral district.

A candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to have up to fifteen, a candidate for Deputy of the Legislative Chamber — up to ten, a candidate for Deputy of the regional Kengash — up to five, a candidate for Deputy of the sub-regional and city Kengash — up to three proxies who shall assist him/her in the conduct of election campaign, agitation of the election, represent his/her interests in relations with the state bodies, public associations and election commissions.

Proxies of the candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan upon his/her proposal shall be registered by the Central Election Commission. The Central Election Commission shall issue them respective certificates.

After registration, a candidate for deputy shall, at his/her own discretion, appoint his/her proxies and inform the respective election commission about them. Election commission shall register the proxies and issue them certificates.

Candidate can disqualify his/her proxiesʼ powers at any time and replace with another, notifying about this the relevant election commission. The proxies may withdraw at any time his/her office.

Proxies may not be a member of election commission.

Travel expenses within the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of proxies of candidates shall be paid at the expense of funds allocated for the election.

Pre-election agitation is an activity carried out during the election campaign and aimed at encouraging voters to vote for a candidate or a political party.

Candidates, their proxies, political parties and their representatives have the right to conduct election agitation (hereinafter referred to as agitation) in the forms and methods established by law.

Agitation begins on the day following the last day established for registration of candidates and party lists in the prescribed manner. Agitation on election day and the day before the start of voting shall not be allowed.

It is forbidden to conduct agitation accompanied by the distribution of goods, services (except for information) to voters free of charge or on preferential terms, as well as by the payment of funds.

The dissemination of false information, violation of the confidentiality of personal data, as well as the dissemination of information discrediting the honor and dignity of candidates is prohibited.

It is forbidden to conduct pre-election campaigning:

heads of government and administrative bodies, local government bodies;

servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, employees of the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other paramilitary formations, law enforcement agencies, judges;

members of election commissions;

officials of religious organizations.

Officials of goverment and administration bodies, local executive bodies during the pre-election campaign are prohibited from using their authority and official position in favor of or against any political party or candidate.

Agitation shall be carried out as follows:

dissemination of information about the program and (or) election platform of a political party with an appeal to vote for its candidates for deputies or political party;

dissemination of information about the program and (or) election platform of the candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan by encouraging to vote for the candidate;

dissemination of information about a candidate and a political party with a call to vote for him.

Agitation can be conducted in the form of: open public debates, discussions, press conferences, meetings of citizens, interviews, speeches, placement of videos in the media.

Agitation shall be carried out through:

mass media, telecommunication networks, as well as through the Internet;

publishing and distributing printed, visual, audio-visual and other promotional materials (posters, leaflets and other materials);

meetings with voters.

Other types, forms and methods of agitation that are not prohibited by the present Code may be used during the period of agitation.

During the campaign, equal conditions of access to the state media shall be ensured by providing the same amount of broadcasting and print space free of charge.

State media can also allocate broadcasting time and publishing space for a fee.

Non-governmental media may allocate broadcasting time and publishing space in accordance with legislation.

The terms and conditions of the mass media for broadcasting time and publishing space and other requirements shall be equal and same for all.

The procedure, volume and time of free use of mass media for campaigning purposes are determined by the relevant election commission, taking into account the opinion of political parties.

Equal conditions for candidates and political parties to publish and distribute printed, visual, audio-visual materials, phonograms, electronic forms of printed products and other agitation materials shall be provided. The agitation materials should be prepared in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Printed, visual, audio-visual and other agitation materials must include the following:

name, the location (postal address) and other information of the legal entity that prepared the materials (surname, name and last name of physical person);

name of the legal entity (surname, name and last name of the physical person) that ordered the agitation materials;

information about the circulation, date of release of the agitation materials.

Candidates and political parties are provided with a level playing field for campaigning through meetings with voters.

Meetings with voters are held by candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, candidates for deputies, political parties independently. The relevant territorial, sub-region, city or precinct election commission is notified of the place and time of meetings with voters.

Mass events, such as meetings with voters, shall be held with written notification to the relevant district (city) khokimiyats of the place and time of their holding at least three days in advance. At the same time, permission to hold mass events is not required.

State and economic management bodies, local government bodies, public associations, as well as citizens' self-government bodies are obliged to provide free equipped rooms for holding meetings, to assist in obtaining the necessary reference and information materials.

Candidate or his proxy may, together with another candidate or his proxy, hold meetings with voters or take part in meetings with voters organized by another candidate.

The voting premises shall be specially designated places where a sufficient number of booths or rooms for secret ballot shall be equipped, the places for the issuance of ballots shall be determined and the ballot boxes shall be installed. Ballot boxes shall be installed in such a way when voters, approaching them, must pass through the booths or rooms for secret ballot. No other political action is permitted in the voting room. The precinct election commission is responsible for equipping the premises and maintaining the necessary order in them.

State bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations are obliged to provide the necessary premises and equipment for the preparation and conduct of elections to the election commissions free of charge.

Voting premises, properly equipped, shall be provided to election commissions at least eleven days before election.

The development of adjacent territories, the creation of necessary conditions for citizens, especially persons with disabilities, the provision of election commissions with technical means, furniture, inventory, office equipment, and transport are assigned to local government bodies, and the provision of communication equipment is assigned to the authorized government body in the field of digital technologies.

Protection of public order, premises and places of elections, as well as support of members of precinct election commissions during transportation of documents with the results of elections shall be assigned to the relevant authorized bodies.

Premises of precinct election commissions shall be equipped accordingly and have:

National flag of the Republic of Uzbekistan (above the building and indoors);

National emblem of the Republic of Uzbekistan (inside the building);

sign board indicating the sequence number of polling station;

booths or rooms for secret ballot;

ballot boxes;

specially equipped secret ballot booths for persons with disabilities, if necessary;

separate places for observers;

banners on the election date;

map of the polling station;

information on the composition, work plan, duty schedule of members of the precinct election commission;

a special stand where information on the preparation and conduct of elections is placed:

biographies and main directions of the programs of all registered candidates in single-member electoral districts, published by the Central Election Commission, territorial, sub-region, city election commission;

the program of a political party participating in the elections, published by the Central Election Commission, the party list;

necessary furniture, office equipment (telephone, printer, computers connected to the Internet and having access to the Information management system of the election process, safe, office supplies);

fire-fighting equipment.

Voting premises should be bright and spacious, have a separate entrance and exit, and provide ramps for persons with disabilities.

Voting shall be held from 8 am to 8 pm on election day. Precinct election commission shall notify voters about the time and place of voting at least ten days before the election.

Voting at polling stations established at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries is held on election day from 8.00 to 20.00 local time at the location of these polling stations.

In polling stations formed at diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries, in military units, in sanatoriums, resorts, hospitals and other permanent medical institutions, in places of residence of citizens located in remote and inaccessible areas, in places of detention and imprisonment precinct election commission may at any time report the voting completed if all citizens included in the list have voted.

At polling stations located on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, counting of votes and opening of ballot boxes before 8 pm is not allowed.

Upon arrival at the polling station, the voter shall present his / her identity document to the member of the precinct election commission and sign the electoral register. Then he/she shall be given a ballot.

The names of voters, for any reason not included in the list of voters, on the basis of a document certifying the identity, citizenship and residence of the voter, shall be included in the Annex to the list of voters.

The voting premises shall be opened on the election day in the presence of at least two thirds of the members of the precinct election commission.

Precinct election commission shall:

prepare the premises for secret voting before the start of voting;

assign responsibilities to the members of the precinct election commission;

prepare ballots signed by two members of the commission, which are confirmed by the seal.

On the day of voting, the National anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan is played in the polling station at 8 am.

Chairperson of the precinct election commission in the presence of members of the Commission, observers, representatives of the media shall:

announce the start of the voting;

check the emptiness of ballot boxes and plumbs them with disposable plastic seals, upon which an act indicating the numbers of plumbs is made;

inform about the number of voters in accordance with the list, the number of ballot papers received and voters voted in advance. These data shall be included in the final protocol;

coordinate and control the organization and conduct of voting, and, if necessary, provide assistance to members of the commission, replace them with other members when they are temporarily absent;

announce completion of voting;

allow voters to complete their voting in the building.

Members of the precinct election Commission shall:

on the basis of the document proving the identity of the voter, check its data in the list of voters and issue the ballot paper for voting under the signature;

create conditions for observers and media representatives to observe the election process.

After receiving the ballot paper, the voter fills it in the booth or room for secret ballot. The presence of persons other than the voter shall not be permitted when filling out the ballot. A voter who is not able to fill in the ballot paper on his / her own has the right to invite another person to the booth or the secret ballot room at his / her discretion, with the exception of persons who are members of the election commission, observers and representatives of the media.

The voter puts a "+" or "✓" or "x" sign in an empty square located to the right opposite the surname of the candidate, the name of the political party for which he votes.

The voter shall put the completed ballot paper into the ballot box.

At the request of the voter, the spoiled ballot may be replaced by a new one. Spoiled ballots shall be recorded, cancelled (by cutting the upper left corner) and stored separately.

In cases when individual voters for health or other reasons can not come to the polling station, the relevant precinct election commission at their request organizes a vote at the place of residence of these voters.

A commission of at least two members with a portable ballot box shall be sent to the place of residence of the voter, which shall ensure that the voting is conducted in compliance with the secrecy of his / her will. Observers and media representatives may be present.

Early voting in densely populated areas by voters in foreign countries can be conducted at the voter's place of residence in accordance with international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan and agreements with authorized state bodies of foreign states.

A precinct election commission, formed at the diplomatic and other representation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a foreign state, makes a decision on the time and place of voting at the place of residence of voters and informs voters and observers about this through the media.

Voting at the place of residence of voters is carried out in the presence of at least two members of the precinct election commission formed at the diplomatic and other representation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a foreign state.

After the end of voting, the members of the precinct election commission open a portable ballot box for voting, without counting votes, put the ballots in a special bag, seal the bag and draw up an act about it.

A sealed bag with ballots, together with the act, is delivered to the polling station and stored until the start of the vote counting process on election day.

A voter who is unable to stay at his / her place of residence on election day shall have the right of early voting.

Early voting begins ten days before the election and ends three days before the election. The time of early voting shall be determined by the Central Election Commission and brought to the attention of voters and observers through the mass media.

For early voting, the voter, on the basis of an application indicating the reason for absence on election day (vacation, business trip, travel abroad, etc.), receives a ballot from the relevant precinct election commission. In the presence of at least two members of the relevant precinct election commission, the voter signs for receipt of the ballot in the list of voters.

The ballot shall be filled in by the voter in a specially equipped booth or room for secret ballot.

The voter shall make a decision and leave the completed ballot paper in a closed envelope, which is kept in the safe of the relevant precinct election commission. At the place where the envelope is glued, two members of the precinct election commission sign, which shall be confirmed by the seal of the commission.

After completion of voting, the chairperson or deputy chairperson of the precinct election commission shall announce the completion of voting in the presence of all members of the commission, observers and the mass media.

Chairperson of the precinct election commission or deputy chairperson together with the members of the commission shall:

compare numbers of seals with the corresponding act;

prepare the place (table) for counting of ballots, after taking aside the writing accessories;

count the unused and distorted ballots and cancel them, and the relevant record shall be made in the final Protocol;

put the sealed envelopes with ballots of early voting into the ballot box;

open stationary and portable ballot boxes;

distribute the ballot papers for each candidate and political party into separate piles, announcing and displaying the ballot papers;

count the votes cast for each candidate and political party;

determine and count invalid ballots, which shall be recorded in the final Protocol;

make a record of the voting results in the final Protocol.

Precinct election commission shall review the complaints (applications) received during the voting and counting of votes. After that the precinct election commission shall hold a meeting on the results of the counting and decide on the outcome of the voting.

The results of the counting of votes shall be considered at the meeting of the precinct election commission and recorded in the protocol signed by the chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary and other members of election commission. After that, the protocol shall be announced by the chairperson or deputy chairperson of precinct election commission and a copy of the Protocol shall be immediately posted in the premises of the precinct election Commission for public inspection for a period of not less than forty-eight hours.

An authorized representative of a political party and observers participating in the vote counting process shall have the right to obtain a certified copy of the protocol of precinct election commission.

A copy of the protocol of the precinct election commission shall be immediately submitted to the territorial election commissions during the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, to the district election commissions during the elections of deputies to the regional and Tashkent city Kengashes of people's deputies, and during the elections to the district and city Kengashes of people's deputies to the relevant sub-region and city election commissions through the use of information and communication technologies, and the original shall be delivered in person to the relevant territorial election commissions (during the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber), district election commissions (during the elections of deputies to the regional and Tashkent city Kengashes of people's deputies), to the sub-region and city election commissions (during the elections of deputies to the sub-region and city Kengashes of people's deputies) by the chairman or his deputy, accompanied by employees of the internal affairs agencies.

If more than two of the candidates participate in the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and none of them has received more than half of the votes cast by the voters, repeat voting shall be held, with two candidates who have the highest number of votes.

The Central Election Commission shall determine repeat voting day within one month from the date of the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, but not earlier than fifteen days from the date of the election. Announcement of repeat voting shall be published in the press.

The candidate who receives more votes than the other candidate is considered elected in re-voting.

The percentage of voters' participation in re-voting is not taken into account.

In case the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is declared not conducted or invalid, as well as if one candidate participated in the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and he failed to collect the required number of votes, the Central Election Commission shall hold repeat elections. At the same time, the deadlines for the implementation of measures to prepare and conduct elections shall be established by the Central Election Commission.

Repeat elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be held in the same manner and under the same conditions as those established by this Code for the conduct of the main elections. In this case, the Central Election Commission may decide on the need to conduct elections by the relevant election commissions in a new composition in the event of detection of violations of the election legislation in the activities of lower election commissions. Voting shall be held at the same polling stations and according to the voter lists compiled for the conduct of the main elections.

Repeat elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be held within seventy days after the main elections.

Repeat elections of deputies to the Legislative Chamber and deputies to local Kengashes are held in the following cases:

if the elections are declared not conducted or invalid in the electoral district;

in the event of equality of the majority of votes cast for candidates in elections to deputies.

Repeat elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and deputies of local Kengashes shall be conducted by the territorial, district, city and district election commission on the instructions of the relevant election commission. At the same time, the relevant election commission may decide on the need to conduct repeat elections by the relevant election commissions in a new composition in the event of violations of the election legislation being revealed in the activities of lower election commissions. Voting shall be conducted at the same polling stations and according to the same voter lists compiled for the main elections.

Repeat elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and deputies of local Kengashes shall be held no later than one month after the main elections. The formation of election commissions, registration of candidates and other events shall be carried out in accordance established by this Code. At the same time, the deadlines for the implementation of measures to prepare and conduct elections shall be established by the Central Election Commission.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be elected for a term of seven years. The same person may not be the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for more than two consecutive terms.

A citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan who is not younger than thirty-five years, fluent in state language and permanently resides in the territory of Uzbekistan for at least ten years before the elections can be elected as the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The following persons shall not be registered as a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

citizens, previously convicted for premeditated crimes;

professional servant of religious organizations and associations

A political party may nominate a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, provided that it is registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan not later than four months before the announcement of the election campaign.

To participate in the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan no less than seventy days before the elections a political party must submit to the Central Election Commission:

an application on participation in the election signed by the party leader;

a reference on the registration of a political party from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

information about the future candidate for the post of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Upon submission of the documents specified in part one of this Article, the Central Election Commission shall issue a certificate to the authorized representative of the political party, which shall indicate the date and time of receipt of the documents. Based on the submitted documents, the Central Election Commission shall, within five days, make a final decision on admitting the party to participate in the elections and shall issue the authorized representative of the political party signature sheets of the established form. The list of parties participating in the elections shall be published in the central press in the order of receipt of applications.

Nominating candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall begin sixty-five days prior to election and end forty-five days prior to election.

The nomination of candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be carried out by the supreme bodies of political parties.

The supreme body of a political party may nominate one candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A political party may nominate a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan only from among the members of its party or a non-party person. A Protocol shall be drawn up on the nomination of a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The head of a political party shall submit an application to the Central Election Commission with a request to register the nominated candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The following documents shall be attached to the application:

the decision of the supreme body of the political party to nominate a candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

protocol of the meeting of the highest body of a political party on the nomination of a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which indicates the last name, first name, patronymic of the nominated candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, date of birth, profession, position (occupation), place of work and residence, party affiliation;

an application by the nominated candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on his/her consent to run;

signature sheets supporting the nominated candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Signature sheets submitted by a political party must contain at least one per cent of the total number of voters in the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this case, a political party may collect not more than eight percent of the total number of signatures in one administrative-territorial unit (the Republic of Karakalpakstan, region, Tashkent city).

Central Election Commission shall issue a certificate with the date and time of receipt of documents to the person submitting the documents.

Central Election Commission shall check the submitted documents within five days and make a conclusion on their conformity with the requirements of the present Code.

The Central Election Commission shall inform the heads of the respective political parties of the revealed discrepancies and deviations from the requirements of the present Code in the documents submitted for registration. The political party shall have the right to correct the revealed discrepancies and errors in the documents within two days and submit them to the Central Election Commission.

Acceptance of documents for registration of candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Central Election Commission completes seven days before the end of the registration period.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall take office upon inauguration at a joint session of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan not later than two months from the date of the official announcement by the Central Election Commission of the election results of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The current President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall exercise his/her powers until the newly elected President of the Republic of Uzbekistan takes office.

In case it is impossible for the current President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to fulfill his duties, his duties and powers shall be temporarily assigned to the Chairman of the Senate, with elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan held within three months in full compliance with this Code.

When the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan calls early elections for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, elections shall be held within two months in full compliance with this Code. At the same time, the deadlines for the implementation of measures to prepare and conduct elections shall be established by the Central Election Commission.

The Legislative Chamber shall consist of one hundred and fifty deputies elected for a term of five years.

Deputies of the Legislative Chamber shall be elected:

seventy-five in single-member constituencies;

seventy-five based on the party list in proportion to the number of votes cast for political parties in a single electoral district.

A political party may nominate candidates for deputies provided that it is registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan no later than four months before the date of the announcement of the election campaign and has collected at least forty thousand signatures of voters supporting its participation in the elections.

Forms of signature sheets of the established sample shall be issued by the Central Election Commission after the announcement of the start of the election campaign.

In one administrative-territorial unit (the Republic of Karakalpakstan, a region, city of Tashkent) a political party may collect not more than eight percent of the signatures from forty thousand voters.

In order to nominate candidates for deputy, a political party must submit the following documents to the Central Election Commission not less than seventy days prior to elections:

an application signed by the head of the party on participation in elections;

a certificate confirming registration of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan at least four months before the announcement of the start of election campaign;

signature sheets.

Upon submission of the documents specified in the first part of the present article, the Central Election Commission shall issue to the authorized representative of a political party a certificate with indication of the date and time of receipt of the document. On the basis of the submitted documents, the Central Election Commission shall, within five days, decide on the admission of a political party to participate in the elections. The list of parties participating in the elections shall be published in the central press in order of priority of receiving the applications.

Nomination of candidates for deputy shall begin sixty-five days before election day and end forty five days before election day.

The nomination of candidates for deputies is carried out by the supreme bodies of political parties.

Political parties have the right to:

nominate seventy-five candidates for deputy in single-member constituencies, that is, one candidate for deputy in each electoral district;

nominate no less than seventy-five but no more than one hundred candidates for deputy on the party list.

In single-member electoral districts, the same person may be nominated as a candidate for deputy in only one electoral district.

Candidates included in the party list may be members of the given political party or non-party members. Members of other political parties cannot be included in this list.

The same candidate can only be included in one party list.

Candidates nominated in single-member constituencies cannot be included in the party list.

The procedure for selecting candidates for deputies is determined by political parties.

The number of women must be no less than forty percent of the number of candidates for deputy nominated by a political party in single-member constituencies, as well as on the basis of the party list. At the same time, no less than two of the five candidates in sequence on the party list must be women.

Political parties are entitled to nominate members of their party or non-party members as candidates for deputy. A protocol is drawn up on the nomination of candidates for deputy and the formation of the party list.

Citizens who have reached the age of twenty-five on election day and permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for at least five years shall have the right to be elected to the Legislative Chamber.

The following persons shall not be registered as a candidate for the deputy of the Legislative Chamber:

citizens whose state of conviction for committing serious or particularly serious crimes was not completed or not cancelled;

citizens not residing permanently in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the last five years before the election day;

military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, employees of the State Security Service, the National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other paramilitary units;

professional servicemen of religious organizations and associations.

The head of a political party shall apply to the Central Election Commission with a request to register candidates for deputies of the Legislative Chamber. The following shall be attached to the application:

decision of the supreme body of the political party on nomination of the candidates;

protocol of the meeting of the highest body of a political party on the nomination of candidates for deputy in a single-member electoral district, as well as candidates for deputy nominated on the basis of the party list, which shall indicate the surname, first name, patronymic of the candidate for deputy, date of birth, profession, position (occupation), place of work and residence, party affiliation, personal identification number of an individual, as well as the name and ordinal number of the electoral district in the single-member electoral district;

an application by a person nominated as a candidate for deputy, agreeing to run in the relevant single-member constituency or to be included in the party list, or resigning from the position held in the event of his election as a deputy of the Legislative Chamber.

The Central Election Commission shall issue a certificate to the person who submitted the documents indicating the date and time of acceptance of the documents.

Central Election Commission shall complete the process of registration of candidates from political parties, seven days before the end of the registration period.

Central Election Commission shall examine the submitted documents within five days and make a conclusion on their conformity with the requirements of the present Code.

The Central Election Commission shall inform the heads of the respective political parties of the revealed discrepancies and deviations from the requirements of the present Code in the documents submitted for registration. The political party shall have the right to correct the revealed discrepancies and errors in the documents within two days and submit them to the Central Election Commission.

The Central Election Commission, on the basis of protocols received from territorial election commissions for single-member constituencies, shall register deputies of the Legislative Chamber.

Registration of deputies elected in a single electoral district shall be carried out by the Central Election Commission in accordance with Article 96¹ of this Code.

Persons elected as deputies acquire the status of deputy of the Legislative Chamber from the moment of their registration by the Central Election Commission.

Persons elected as deputies of the Legislative Chamber shall be required to notify the Central Election Commission in writing of their resignation from duties that are incompatible with the status of a deputy of the Legislative Chamber.

Deputies of the Legislative Chamber shall be granted certificates and badges within ten days from the date of their registration by the Central Election Commission.

In cases of early termination of powers of deputies elected in single-member constituencies, new elections shall be held in the relevant constituencies.

Elections shall be appointed by the Central Election Commission no later than one month before they are held and are organized in compliance with the requirements of this Code. The deadlines for the implementation of measures to prepare for and hold elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber to replace those who have retired in single-member electoral districts are established by the Central Election Commission.

In the event of the withdrawal of a deputy of the Legislative Chamber elected in a single-member constituency less than six months before the expiration of the term of office of the Legislative Chamber, elections of a new deputy to replace the one who has withdrawn may not be held.

When the Legislative Chamber is dissolved by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber are held within three months in full accordance with this Code.

When the Legislative Chamber makes a decision on self-dissolution, elections of deputies to the Legislative Chamber shall be held within two months in full accordance with this Code. At the same time, the deadlines for the implementation of measures to prepare and conduct elections shall be established by the Central Election Commission.

The seats of deputies of the Legislative Chamber, formed on the basis of the party list and in place of those who retired, shall be filled by candidates from the party list, registered by the relevant political party, who do not have a mandate.

The Central Election Commission shall send a notification of registration as a deputy to the first candidate who did not receive a mandate, according to the ordinal number on the relevant party list, within five days after a deputy seat becomes vacant.

If the candidate who received the notification complies with the requirements provided for in part ten of Article 96¹ of this Code, the Central Election Commission shall register the candidate as a deputy of the Legislative Chamber and within five days shall grant a certificate and badge.

If a candidate refuses to become a deputy or does not fulfill the requirements provided for in part ten of Article 96¹ of this Code, the Central Election Commission shall send a notification to the next candidate who did not receive a mandate, according to the ordinal number from the corresponding party list.

The procedure provided for in part four of this Article shall be carried out until the deputy mandate is filled in place of those who retired.

The Senate is a regional representative chamber.

Members of the Senate are elected in equal numbers — four people each — from the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent. Elections to the Senate shall be held by secret ballot at the relevant joint sessions of the deputies of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, local Kengashes from among these deputies.

Nine members of the Senate shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from among the most authoritative citizens with extensive practical experience and special merits in the fields of science, art, literature, production and other areas of state and public activity.

The term of office of the Senate is five years.

Elections of the members of the Senate shall be held no later than one month after the election of the deputies of the Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and local Kengashes.

A candidate for election to the Senate may be a deputy of the Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, a local Kengash, who has reached the age of twenty-five by the election day and permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for at least five years.

Convening of joint meetings of the Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, local Kengashes of the respective region, Tashkent city, as well as sub-regions and cities (hereinafter referred to as the joint meeting) shall be held by the Central Election Commission.

The joint meeting shall be competent if at least two-thirds of the total number of deputies is present.

The Central Election Commission shall announce the holding of a joint meetings for the election of members of the Senate within three days after the publication of the results of the elections to the Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, local Kengashes.

The resolution of the Central Election Commission indicating the date, time and place of joint meetings shall be published (announced) in the mass media as well as on its official website.

The joint meeting shall be opened by a member of the Central Election Commission, who makes a proposal on the presiding of the most authoritative, experienced, senior deputies. To conduct the work of the joint meeting by open vote shall be elected a working presidium of three to five persons, as well as a Secretariat of three persons to record the proposals received and to formalize the decisions taken.

Nomination of candidates for membership of the Senate shall be held at the joint meeting.

The Advisory Council shall be elected by a simple majority of votes to nominate candidates for the Senate on the proposal of the Chairperson.

The Advisory Council shall be elected from among the most authoritative and older members who have extensive experience, as a rule, one representative from each local Kengash.

The Advisory Council shall elect its chairperson.

The Advisory Council shall nominate and consider candidates for membership in the Senate from among the most authoritative deputies with extensive practical experience and special merits in the field of science, art, literature, production and other spheres of state and social activity, and shall make a proposal for inclusion of them in the ballot.

Decision to include them in the ballot shall be made based on the results of a personal hearing and discussion of candidates at a joint meeting.

A candidate for the Senate, for whom the majority of deputies participating in the joint meeting voted, shall be considered to be included in the ballot.

At least four candidates for membership in the Senate shall be included on the ballot.

A Counting Commission consisting of up to nine members, including the chairperson and secretary of the Commission, shall be elected from among the deputies participating in the joint meeting to conduct the secret ballot and determine its results.

The Counting Commission shall:

organize and conduct voting on the election of members of the Senate;

announce the time, place and procedure of the secret ballot to the participants of the joint meeting;

prepare ballot papers by including in them in alphabetical order the surname, name and patronymic of each candidate for the Senate with the date of birth;

specify a list of voters, issue a ballot sheets;

affix a seal on its front side and ensure the presence on the ballot of signatures of at least two members of the Counting Commission;

count the votes and draws up a Protocol on the results of the secret ballot;

submit for approval of the joint meeting the results of the secret ballot.

Before the start of the secret ballot, the chairperson of the Counting Commission shall announce the procedure for its conduct, in the presence of the members of the Commission shall check and seal the ballot box with disposable seals.

The ballot box shall be installed in such a way that the voters, when approaching it, must pass through the booth or the room for secret ballot.

The deputy participating in the joint meeting shall present to the member of the Counting Commission a document proving his/her identity and sign the list of voters, after which he/she shall be issued a ballot.

The ballot shall be filled in by the voter in the booth or in the secret ballot room by putting one of the marks “+” or “” or “х” on empty square situated on the right side, opposite to the surname of the candidate for Senate members for whom he/she is voting.

The voter shall put the completed ballot paper into the ballot box, which shall be placed in a visible place.

Distorted ballot paper may be replaced by a new one at the request of the voter.

After the end of the secret voting process unused, as well as distorted ballot papers shall be counted, cancelled (by cutting the upper left corner on the left) and stored separately.

Counting of votes shall be conducted by the members of the Counting Commission without interruption until the results of the secret ballot are determined.

On the basis of ballot papers in ballot box the Counting Commission shall determine the:

total number of the deputies present at voting;

number of votes cast for each candidate for membership of the Senate;

number of invalid ballot papers.

The votes shall not be counted by the names of citizens additionally inscribed on the ballot papers.

Ballot papers of an unidentified sample, ballot papers in which the marks “+” or “ ” or “х” are not put down in any square, as well as ballots on the front side of which there is no seal and signatures of members of the Counting Commission shall be deemed invalid.

A protocol shall be drawn up upon the secret ballot results, and the protocol shall be signed by all the members of the Counting Commission. It shall not be permitted to draw up with pencil and to make any corrections to it.

Candidates for members of the Senate who received more votes in relation to other candidates as a result of voting, provided that more than fifty percent of deputies of local Kengashes present at the joint meeting voted for them, shall be considered as elected.

If in the voting, the established number of members of the Senate are not elected, for the unselected amount of members of the Senate the repeat voting shall be held at the same joint meeting among the candidates who have not collected the required amount of votes.

Repeat election of members of the Senate shall be held in the following cases:

if the elections have been recognized as invalid;

if the specified amount of members of the Senate have not been elected as a result of the repeat voting.

In the cases indicated in the third paragraph of the second part of the present article, repeat election shall be held for the unselected amount of members of the Senate.

Repeat elections of the members of the Senate shall be held within fifteen days after the basic elections to the Senate.

Nominating candidates for the unselected amount of members of the Senate and repeat election shall be held in accordance with the procedure established by the present Code.

Based on the protocols of joint meetings, the Central Election Commission shall register members of the Senate not later than five days from the day of receipt of such protocols and shall issue a certificate and a breastplate within ten days after their registration.

The Central Election Commission may declare the election of members of the Senate invalid if, during the election, counting of votes, establishment of the results of the secret ballot, there have been violations of the requirements of the present Code that have affected the results of the election.

The decisions of the joint meetings, as well as the Central Election Commission, can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan within five days from the date these decisions are adopted.

Election of the members of the Senate instead of retired ones shall be held at the respective joint sessions, in accordance with the requirements of the present Code.

In the case of the retiring of a member of the Senate less than six months before the expiration of the term of office of the Senate, the election of a new member of the Senate instead of the retired one may not be held.

When the Senate is dissolved by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, elections of members of the Senate shall be held within three months in full accordance with this Code.

When the Senate makes a decision on self-dissolution, elections of members of the Senate shall be held within one month in full accordance with this Code.

Elections to local Kengashes shall be held in territorial single-member constituencies on a multi-party basis for a term of five years.

The number of seats in the regional and Tashkent city Kengashes of People's Deputies shall be determined by the relevant local Kengashes based on the population size as follows:

in territories with a population of up to two million people — from thirty to forty;

in territories with a population of two million to three million people — from forty to fifty;

in territories with a population of more than three million people — from fifty to sixty.

The number of seats in district and city Kengashes of People's Deputies shall be determined by the relevant local Kengashes based on the population size as follows:

in territories with a population of up to thirty thousand people — from ten to fifteen;

in territories with a population of thirty thousand to one hundred thousand people — from fifteen to twenty;

in territories with a population of one hundred thousand to three hundred thousand people — from twenty to twenty-five;

in territories with a population of more than three hundred thousand people — from twenty-five to thirty.

Based on territorial and other local conditions, the number of deputy seats in the regional, Tashkent city, district and city Kengashes of People's Deputies may be amended by the Senate within the limits of the norms established by parts two and three of this Article.

In the event of the transfer of the territory of an electoral district to another administrative-territorial unit or the formation of a new administrative-territorial unit on its territory, the powers of the deputy elected from this electoral district shall be retained. In this case, the deputy shall be a member of the Kengash of People's Deputies located on the territory of the electoral district or the Kengash of People's Deputies formed on the newly formed administrative-territorial unit, and the term of office of the deputy shall correspond to the term of office of this Kengash of People's Deputies. In such cases, an increase or decrease in the number of deputy seats from the norm established in parts two and three of this article may be allowed.

Elections to local Kengashes in newly formed administrative-territorial units shall be held for a period not exceeding the period remaining until the next general elections to regional, district and city Kengashes of People's Deputies.

In order to nominate candidates for deputy, a political party must submit the following documents to the relevant territorial, sub-region, city election commission no less than seventy days before the elections, and when elections of local Kengashes are held simultaneously with elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber, to the Central Election Commission:

an application for participation in elections, signed by the head of a political party or the head of the relevant regional, sub-region, or city body of the party;

a document confirming registration of a political party not less than four months before the announcement of the start of election campaign.

Upon submission of the documents specified in part one of this Article, the relevant election commission shall issue a certificate to the authorized representative of the political party, which shall indicate the date and time of acceptance of the documents. Based on the submitted documents, the election commission shall make a final decision within five days on admitting the party to participate in the elections. The list of parties participating in the elections shall be published in the press in the order in which applications were received.

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have reached the age of twenty-one on election day and permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for at least five years may be elected as members of local Kengashes.

The following persons shall not be registered as a candidate for the deputy of local Kengashes:

citizens whose state of conviction for committing grave or particularly grave crimes was not completed or not canceled;

citizens not residing permanently in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the last five years before election day;

military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, employees of the State Security Service, the National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other paramilitary units;

professional servicemen of religious organizations and associations.

Judges, officials of the Prosecutor's office and executive authorities (except khokims of regions, sub-regions and cities) shall be registered as candidates for deputies of local Kengashes, provided that they submit an application for dismissal from office in case of election as deputies.

Nomination of candidates for deputies of local Kengashes shall begin sixty-five days before election day and ends forty five days before election day.

Nomination of candidates to the local Kengashes shall be carried out by the relevant bodies of political parties.

Political parties are authorized to nominate one candidate from each election constituency located in the relevant territory for the deputy of local Kengashes.

The same person may be represented as a candidate in only one constituency for elections to the relevant local Kengash. The order of selection of candidates for deputies is determined by the political parties.

The number of women shall not be less than forty percent of the total number of candidates for deputies of local Kengashes nominated by a political party.

Political parties nominate only members of their own party or non-party persons as candidates. A Protocol shall be drawn up on the nomination of candidates for deputies.

The head of the relevant body of the political party submits an application to the relevant territorial, sub-region, city election commission with a request to register candidates for deputies of local Kengashes. The following shall be attached to the application:

the decision of the relevant political party to nominate candidates for deputy;

protocol of the meeting of the relevant body of the political party on the nomination of candidates for deputy of local Kengashes, which indicates the surname, first name, patronymic of the candidate for deputy, date of birth, profession, position (occupation), place of work and residence, party affiliation, personal identification number of an individual, as well as the name and number of the electoral district for a single-member electoral district;

an application from a person nominated as a candidate for deputy of a local Kengashes, agreeing to run in the relevant single-member electoral district, or resigning from the position held for persons specified in part three of Article 90 of this Code, in the event that they are elected as deputies of local Kengashes.

The person who submitted the documents shall be issued a certificate by the relevant territorial, district, or sub-region election commission, which shall indicate the date and time of acceptance of the documents.

The territorial, sub-region, and city election commission completes the acceptance of documents from political parties for the registration of candidates for deputy seven days before the end of the registration period.