1. The Central Elections Commission

The commission is comprised of nine members appointed through a Presidential Decree, in accordance with the law. The commission is responsible for approving all procedures necessary for the electoral process, throughout its phases, making sure it is carried out in accordance with the law. Moreover, the commission has to apply all procedures necessary for holding free, honest and transparent presidential, legislative and local elections, in addition to verifying and announcing the elections results.

Control Unit: this unit reports directly to the CEC’s Chairman, and is responsible for CEC’s internal regulations throughout its offices.

2. Central Electoral Office

The central electoral office is considered the administrative and executive body of the CEC, and falls under its supervision. The office is headed by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), who is responsible for developing and implementing necessary plans, procedures and systems following its approval by the CEC. The following tasks fall under the responsibility of the Central Electoral Office:

• Developing a general perception of the phases of electoral processes as well as the plans necessary for carrying it out.
• Preparing the preliminary and final voters’ registry.
• Educating voters and raising their awareness on the importance of elections and how to participate.
• Accrediting electoral lists and their candidates, as well as independent candidates.
• Accrediting local and international observation bodies, as well as the agents of political parties and independent candidates.
• Coordinating with all parties interested in the electoral process.
• Recruiting and training electoral employees and staff
• Archiving all documents and files related to elections.

The Central Electoral Office is comprised of the following technical departments:

Field Operations’ Department

Responsible for developing, implementing and managing action plans related to all phases of the electoral process and following up its flow. It oversees the development of the Voters’ Registry, preparing and equipping polling centers, equipping electoral district offices and centers with the different necessary electoral materials and human resources, and providing all means of support necessary for the electoral process. Moreover, it is responsible for the continued coordination between the electoral district offices and HQ, to ensure the proper flow of the electoral plan. It includes the following three sections:

1. Field Coordination
2. Logistics
3. Data Management

Electoral Procedures’ Department

Responsible for developing all procedures related to the electoral process, covering the processes of exhibition, challenge, nomination, electoral campaigning and parties’ affairs, in addition to the voting and counting processes. The department is responsible for training the CEC staff and accrediting the local observation bodies.  The department is comprised of the following three sections:

1. Training
2. Local Observation
3. Political Parties and Candidates

Public Relations Department

Responsible for the tasks of communicating with the media and civil society organizations (CSOs), accrediting local and international journalists, preparing periodic reports and electoral processes reporting. One of the department’s main tasks is to develop awareness-raising and education programs to communicate electoral messages and procedures to the voters, candidates and electoral lists. The department is comprised of the following three sections:

1. Public Relations
2. Media
3. Education and Awareness-raising

Information Technology (IT) Department

Works on providing technical resources, devising and implementing communication techniques and technologies, developing software and databases necessary for guaranteeing the CEC’s ability to carry out its various functions within a certain timeframe, with a high level of security and safety. The department is comprised of the following sections:

1. Systems and Networks
2. Information Systems
3. Information Security
4.  

The Financial Department

Oversees the CEC’s financial aspects and affairs in accordance with the laws, regulations and systems in effect. The department is comprised of the following sections:

1. Accounting
2. Financial Audit

The Administrative Department

Oversees the CEC’s administrative aspects and affairs, and is comprised of the following sections:

1. Personnel Affairs
2. Administrative Services

Procurement Department

Responsible for the CEC’s procurements, and is comprised of the following two sections:

1. Tenders and Supplies
2. Assets