CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN

Information about the Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan (as of January, 2024)

The Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan was established in 1992.

The full name of the commission is “Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan”.

The abbreviated name is “Central Election Commission” or “Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan”.

The term of office of the Central Election Commission is five years.

The election commission consists of the chairman, the deputy chairman, the secretary and twelve members. Five members (33,3%) of the 15 members are female.

The chairman of the Central Election Commission, the deputy chairman, the secretary conduct their activities within the organization, and the remaining twelve members implement their powers on a voluntary basis.

Decisions of the Central Election Commission are made by majority vote and open voting. Decisions made by the Central Election Commission are binding on the territory of Turkmenistan.

The activity of the Central Election Commission is carried out in the form of meetings. The meeting of the Central Election Commission is held on the basis of a free, open discussion of issues within its competence.

For the period of joining to the Central Election Commission, the membership of members of political parties and public associations is temporarily suspended. This rule applies to employees of the Central Election Commission.

The organizational, legal, technical, information support of the activity of the Central Election Commission is carried out by its permanently operating employees.

The organization was formed on February 16, 2007 and is headed by the chairman of the Central Election Commission.

The organization of the Central Election Commission has executive secretaries in the Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, Mary velayats and in the city of Ashgabat. They help in organizational works on the elections.

The annual work plan prepared for the organization of the Central Election Commission is approved by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission and is implemented by the organization.

Also is made up a plan for the preparation and organization of elections during the election campaign. This plan is approved at a meeting of the Central Election Commission and is carried out by the election commission, political parties, public associations, hakimliks, relevant ministries and organizations.

The activities and powers of the Central Election Commission are carried out in accordance with the Constitution and the Election Code of Turkmenistan. This helps guide the preparation and holding of elections and referendums, as well as the structure of the election commission.

The structure of the election commission of Turkmenistan:

1. the Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan;
2. election commissions of the velayats, the city of Arkadag and Ashgabat;
3. election commissions of etraps and cities with the rights of etrap;
4. district election commissions;
5. election commissions of cities in etraps, settlements and gengeshliks;
6. precinct election commissions.

The term of office of these election commissions is five years and their members implement their powers on a voluntary basis.

Election commissions of velayats, etraps, cities, cities in etraps, settlements, gengeshliks are formed by administrative-territorial units of the country, but district and precinct election commissions - by the number of voters, formed constituencies and polling stations of the relevant territory.

According to the information on January, 2024:

• 7 election commissions of velayats, cities with the rights of velayats (totally 77 members);
• 50 election commissions of etraps, cities with the rights of etraps (totally 552 members);
• 125 district election commissions (totally 1375 members)
• 573 election commissions of the cities in etraps, settlements, gengeshliks (totally 4083 members);
• 2645 precinct election commissions, 42 of which are abroad (totally 17087 members).

In general, there are 3401 commissions (totally 23189 members) in the 6-digit structures of the election commissions.

Also, at the Central Election Commission are functioning also working commissions, which work with complaints, with investigative oversight, with international organizations, with the mass media and national observers.

The website “www.saylav.gov.tm” of the Central Election Commission contains information about the Constitution and the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, election guidelines, memos, charters, news.

Financial support of the activities of the Central Election Commission's office is carried out at the expense of the State Budget of Turkmenistan. The Central Election Commission is a legal entity.

Address of the Central Election Commission: c. Ashgabat, st. Görogly, d.44.
Tel: 44-67-33, Fax: 44-67-28, 44-67-35.

                                                                                                      INFORMATION
                                        about the number of members of election commissions established over the country

№	Velayats, cities with the rights of velayats	Election commissions of velayats, cities with the rights of velayats	Election commissions of etraps, cities with the rights of etraps	District election commissions	Election commissions of the cities in etraps, settlements, gengeshliks	Precinct election commissions	TOTAL
1	ARKADAG	11	22		7	5	45
2	AHAL	11	77	176	686	2169	3119
3	BALKAN	11	99	110	350	1531	2101
4	DASHOGUZ	11	88	297	945	3110	4451
5	LEBAP	11	101	286	945	3693	5036
6	MARY	11	121	319	1150	3886	5487
7	ASHGABAT	11	44	187		2693	2935
Total		77	552	1375	4083	17087	23174