When political parties take part in the election, they nominate candidates for deputies according to the pre-election program developed on the basis of their goals and ideas, and conduct extensive campaigning for their election. This process was defined in detail in the regulation on the authorized representative of the political party approved by the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan on September 11, 2019.
When political parties take part in the election, they nominate candidates for deputies according to the pre-election program developed on the basis of their goals and ideas, and conduct extensive campaigning for their election. This process was defined in detail in the regulation on the authorized representative of the political party approved by the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan on September 11, 2019.
In the election process, the appointment of authorized representatives by political parties in order to establish relations with the relevant election commissions and to observe the ongoing processes directly on the spot and to establish public control is important in the election process.
In accordance with Article 34 of the Election Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a political party has the right to appoint an authorized representative to participate in the meetings of the election commission, in handing over documents, in checking that signature sheets are filled out correctly, and in counting votes at the polling station.
It can be seen that the issue of appointing an authorized representative by a political party is carried out in two stages.
At the first stage, an authorized representative is appointed to conduct relations with the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan related to the implementation of the political party's participation in the election based on the established rules.
In order to participate in the meetings of the Central Election Commission, in the handing over of documents, in checking that the signature sheets are filled in correctly, the head of the higher body of the political party appoints his authorized representative within five days from the day of the official announcement of the start of the election campaign and submits relevant documents to the Central Election Commission for registration.
The Central Election Commission, after reviewing the relevant documents, registers the candidate for the representative office recommended by the political party within three days and issues a certificate in the prescribed form.
The second stage is directly related to the activity of the authorized representative appointed from the regional party bodies. Such an authorized representative works at the polling station.
That is, the territorial bodies of political parties that have nominated candidates for the Presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, People's Deputies of regional, district, and city councils appoint their authorized representatives to participate in the counting of votes at the polling station from the day of the establishment of the polling stations.
At least fifteen days before the election, the head of the regional body of the political party submits the list of the authorized representatives of the political party (including the name, surname, position, residential address and telephone number) to the relevant election commission.
In this application:
to the district election commission conducting the presidential election in the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
to the district election commission conducting the election of deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
People's deputies for holding elections to local councils are submitted to the district election commission holding elections to regional, district, and city councils.
When the election of the deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the election of People's Deputies to the regional, district (city) councils are held simultaneously, the election of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis will be submitted to the district election commission.
The relevant election commission shall register the authorized representatives and issue a certificate in the prescribed form within five days from the date of receipt of the list of authorized representatives of the political party.
At the same time, in some cases, issuing a certificate to an authorized representative may be refused. In particular, if the candidate for authorized representative is under 18 years of age or is not a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, if the election is applied less than fifteen days before the election, if the candidate from the political party in the relevant electoral district is not registered, if the relevant documents are not fully submitted, the certificate may be refused.
A political party may deprive an authorized representative of his authority at any time before the election by notifying the relevant election commission in writing.
The authorized representative of the political party, at the meetings of the election commission, submits documents to the election commissions, including t
has the right to participate in the handing over of collected signature sheets, to verify that the signature sheets are filled in correctly, to participate in the counting of votes at the polling station, to get acquainted with the report of the precinct election commission, including a certified copy of the report of the precinct election commission.
An authorized representative of a political party may not interfere with the activities of the precinct election commission, including the sealing, opening, and counting of ballot boxes.
An authorized representative of a political party must carry an identity document, a document issued by the political party, and a certificate of the relevant election commission.
An authorized representative of a political party may appeal against the behavior and decision of the precinct election commission to this election commission or to the higher election commission or to the court in accordance with the procedure established by law. The term of office of the authorized representative of the political party shall be deemed to have expired from the date of publication of the information on the results of the election in the press.
The active work of this institute during the election campaign serves to ensure the transparency, fairness and legality of the elections and to exercise public control over the activities of the election commissions.
Bahadirjon YUNUSOV,
Republic of Uzbekistan
Member of the Central Election Commission.