REGULATION NO. 2000/65
UNMIK/REG/2000/65
19 December 2000
The Special Representative of the
Secretary-General,
Pursuant to the authority given to him under
United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999,
Taking into account United Nations Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Regulation No. 1999/1 of 25 July 1999,
as amended, on the Authority of the Interim Administration in Kosovo,
Having promulgated UNMIK Regulation No.
2000/21 on the Central Election Commission of 18 April 2000,
For the purpose of making adjustments to
cover responsibilities for preparation and conduct of Kosovo-wide elections,
Hereby amends sections 2 and 4 of UNMIK Regulation
No. 2000/21,
Consequently, the regulation will have the
following wording as of the date on which the present regulation enters into
force:
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General,
Pursuant to the authority given to him under
United Nations Security Council resolution
1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999,
Taking into account United Nations Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Regulation No. 1999/1 of 25
July 1999, as amended, on the Authority of the Interim Administration in
Kosovo,
For the purpose of establishing a Central
Election Commission and conducting elections,
Hereby promulgates the following:
Section 1
The Central Election Commission shall be independent and impartial.
Section 2
2.1 The Central Election Commission shall be composed of nine Kosovar members and three international members. The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Institution Building shall be the Chairperson. The Chairperson and members, and alternates who will sit for them in their absence, shall be appointed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Their term of office shall be two years, subject to earlier termination of an appointment by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
2.2 No member shall hold any public office, high party office or be a candidate for elections.
Section 3
Upon appointment, each member of the Central Election Commission shall subscribe to a solemn oath or declaration before the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, in the following form:
“I swear (or solemnly declare) that I will perform my duties as a
member of the Central Election Commission honourably, faithfully, impartially,
professionally and conscientiously.”
Section 4
4.1 The Central Election Commission shall be responsible for the conduct of elections in Kosovo.
4.2 The Central Election Commission shall prepare, in accordance with Section 5, the basic rules which shall govern the conduct of elections in Kosovo, including Kosovo-wide and municipal elections to be submitted to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for promulgation as a regulation. These basic rules shall include the following:
(a) Duration of the term of office for elected officials;
(b) Selection of an appropriate electoral system;
(c) Authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to certify the registration process and the final result; and
(d) Authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to set and announce the date of elections.
4.3 The Central Election Commission shall prepare and issue electoral rules relating to the implementation of a regulation as referred to in Section 4.2 and the conduct of elections, including the following:
(a) Definition and design of sensitive electoral material, including the design of the ballot paper;
(b) Accreditation of domestic and international observers;
(c) Political party, coalition and candidate registration;
(d) Establishing all necessary procedures for the conduct of Kosovo-wide elections;
(e) Establishing competent authorities responsible for the conduct of elections, such as Municipal Election Commission and polling station committees;
(f) Voter registration provisions;
(g) Polling and counting procedures;
(h) Voter information;
(i) An electoral code of conduct; and
(j) The creation of an electoral complaints body to ensure that actions/sanctions are taken to address any violation of electoral rules and of any other regulations or rules governing the elections.
4.4 The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, pursuant to his authority under Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), may suspend or revoke any electoral rule or decision issued or made under section 4.3.
Section 5
5.1 The Central Election Commission shall take decisions by consensus. If no consensus can be reached by following the practices, and within the time limits established by the rules of procedure for the Central Election Commission in accordance with section 6, the Chairperson shall decide and his or her decision shall be final and binding.
5.2 No member shall participate in the decision of a case in which the member or a family member has a conflict of interest of a personal, financial or other nature, which may question the ability of the member to act impartially.
Section 6
The Central Election Commission shall establish rules of procedure for its activities.
Section 7
7.1 A person residing in Kosovo shall be registered to vote provided he or she is registered in the Central Civil Registry established by UNMIK and meets the voter eligibility requirements as established by administrative direction. Such person may, at his or her option, vote for either the municipality of his or her residence on 1 January 1998 or for the municipality of current residence.
7.2 A person who is residing outside Kosovo and who left Kosovo on or after 1 January 1998, may register to vote on a separate voters’ register, provided that he or she meets the criteria in UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/13 of 17 March 2000 on the Central Civil Registry for being a habitual resident of Kosovo and the voter eligibility requirements as established by administrative direction. Such a person shall be eligible to vote for the municipality where he or she resided on 1 January 1998.
7.3 The Special Representative of the Secretary-General may decide, in exceptional circumstances, to allow additional groups of persons to register to vote who are not eligible to vote under sections 7.1 and 7.2. Such decisions shall be given effect through the issuance of an administrative direction.
Section 8
The present regulation[1] shall enter into force on 19 December 2000.
Bernard Kouchner
Special
Representative of the Secretary-General