The National Election Committee shall be responsible for planning, organizing and managing the election in the whole country.
The National Election Committee shall have full right to implement its duties according to Law on the Organization and Functioning of the NEC, the law on elections in force, regulations and procedures on elections determined by the National Election Committee.
The rights, authority, duties and responsibilities regarding planning, organizing, managing and supervising the election are as follows:
- Taking all necessary measures to ensure that the elections are free, fair just and by means of secret vote
- Preparing work plans, budget and materials and equipment for the election, and publicizing the election calendar
- Appointing Provincial/Capital Election Commissions, Commune/ Sangkat Election Commissions, and Polling Station Commissions
- Developing regulations, procedures and directives for the election processes within the framework of the laws in effect
- Proposing and enforcing measures to maintain security and public order during the time of the election
- Supervising the work of Election Commissions at all levels
- Establishing the boundary of the polling stations
- Issuing decisions regarding the locations of the voter registration stations, polling stations and vote counting stations
- Producing and allocating the electoral materials and equipment
- Recruiting and appointing officials to help the Revision of Voters’ Lists and Voter Registration in accordance with the laws, regulations and procedures on election
- Preparing the voters’ lists and the register of voters
- Reviewing and validating the voters’ lists
- Receiving and deciding on the applications of the political parties' registration and political parties' candidates who run for the election according to the election law in force
- Managing and supervising the conduct of electoral campaigns
- Organizing and managing the voting, counting of ballots, consolidation of the result of the poll, and announcement of the results of the election
- Temporarily remove the right to vote or to restore the right to vote - Register the political party running the election or delete the political party from the list. - Delete the candidacy of the candidates who stand for the Election or to recognize their candidacy.
- Examining the income and financial expenses incurred by candidates and political parties during the election campaigns
- Taking measures and providing coordination to ensure the use of the public media based on the principle of equality and equity
- Providing information, data and statistics on the electoral processes to political parties and candidates and receiving suggestions related to the election - Ensuring regular information exchanges and coordination regarding the electoral processes between the National Election Committee and Election Commissions at all levels and political parties, candidates and stakeholders
- Producing IEC documents/materials about the election matters
- Promoting the public awareness on electoral matters through voters education and public dissemination programs and by other means
- Developing documents, programs and training for the electoral officers
- Approving and issuing identification cards to political party representatives and national and international observers;
- Overseeing to ensure the legality aspect of the implementation of law, regulations and procedures on election
- Deciding on all complaints and objections related to the election through public hearing according to the law, regulations and procedures on election, except the complaints which fall under the jurisdiction of the courts
- Preventing and monitoring the irregularities in the election
- Establishing a committee to destroy the ballot papers used during each Election of Members of the National Assembly after these ballot papers have been stored safely for 6 (six) years and the ballot papers used during each commune/sangkat council election after these ballot papers have been stored safely for 3 (three) years, counting from the polling day of each mandate. The afore-said ballot papers destruction process shall be conducted in an open manner and with participation of relevant political parties.
- Implementing other tasks as permitted or required by laws and regulations.
The Chairperson of the National Election Committee shall:
1. Ensure that all members of the National Election Committee comply with election law, its internal rules (by-laws), regulations and procedures and the code of conduct for electoral officers.
2. Convene and lead all ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the National Election Committee.
3. Represent the National Election Committee in relationship with the King, institutions, national and international organizations.
4. Submit annual reports of the National Election Committee to the National Assembly and the Senate.
5. Sign all official documents of the National Election Committee.
The Vice-Chairperson of the National Election Committee shall assist the chairperson according to the tasks allocated by the Chairperson. In the event that the Chairperson is absent or unable to come to work the Vice-chairperson replaces the chairperson as the Acting Chairperson through a letter of authorization.
Members of the National Election Committee shall receive the tasks as defined in the Internal Rules and assigned by the Chairperson of the National Election Committee upon consultation with the Vice-chairperson and members of the National Election Committee.
The National Election Committee may issue a decision to assign its rights to the Municipal/Provincial Election Commission, Commune/Sangkat Election Commission, Polling Station Commission and electoral officers or electoral agents to implement their electoral duties.
The remuneration and benefits for members of the National Election Commissions at all levels shall be determined by the National Election Committee.
WORKING FORMALITIES OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION COMMITTEE
The working modalities of the National Election Committee shall be determined by the Internal Rules (by-laws) established and approved by the National Election Committee.
The Internal Rules of the National Election Committee shall be in accordance with the provisions of Law on the Organization and Functioning of the NEC and the election law in force after taking office.
The Chairperson of the National Election Committee shall convene the meetings of the National Election Committee.
Members of the National Election Committee shall attend the meetings as convened and invited by the Chairperson of the National Election Committee.
In the event that any member of the National Election Committee fail to attend the meetings or are absent without reason for 3 (three) times she/he shall be deemed to give up his/her position.
One third (1/3) of the members of the National Election Committee shall have the right to make a written proposal attached the specific agenda or subject to the Chairperson of the National Election Committee to convene a meeting of the National Election Committee and the Chairperson shall convene the meeting of the National Election Committee.
The meetings of the National Election Committee shall be valid only if:
- There is a quorum of 2/3 of all members of the National Election Committee for any approvals that require a majority vote of two third (2/3) of all members of the National Election Committee.
- There is a quorum of more than half of all members of the National Election Committee for any approvals that require an absolute majority of all members of the National Election Committee.
The National Election Committee shall adopt the Internal Rules and election regulations and procedures with two third (2/3) majority of all members of the National Election Committee. If it does not meet the above quorum and/or enough vote for approval based on the two third majority of all members of the National Election Committee, the Chairperson of the National Election Committee shall convene a second meeting the next day and the quorum and the vote for approval shall be the absolute majority of all members of the National Election Committee.
Other than the Internal Rules and election regulations and procedures, the National Election Committee shall approve with the absolute majority vote of all members of the National Election Committee.
In case there is an equal vote for an approval of any issue, the vote by the Chairperson of the National Election Committee shall override.
In the event that the functioning of the National Election Committee is stalled due to lack of quorum or lack of adequate vote to adopt any issue the National Assembly shall decide to dissolve the composition of the embattled National Election Committee and shall organize a new membership to replace it according to the provisions of Law on the Organization and Functioning of the NEC.
All decisions of the National Election Committee shall be announced in public not later than 5 (five) working days after they are made.