Palestinian National Authority

Palestinian Elections Law

Part IV: The Election Appeals Court

Art. 31: Formation of the Court

  1. There shall be a Election Appeals Court formed by a President and four judges appointed by the President of the Palestinian National Authority in the Presidential Decree calling the elections.
  2. In order to take valid decisions, the Court shall sit with the attendance of at least the President and two of its members. The attendance of all of the members of the Court shall be required to decide on matter of special importance, according to the decision of the President.

Art. 32: Seat of the Court

  1. The Court shall fix its seat in any of the main cities of the territory.
  2. The Court shall have two offices for the reception of documents and consultation, one in the Gaza Strip and another in the West Bank.
  3. The President of the Court may, if he or she deems it necessary in order to facilitate the operation of the parties, order the sitting of the Court other than at its official seat, in the place where the facts under adjudication occurred.

Art. 33: Judges of the Court

The President and the rest of the members of the Court must be judges who meet all the requirements to be a judge in an ordinary Court and who have at least ten years of practice in the exercise of their judicial occupation.

Art. 34: Procedure

  1. The proceedings before the Court shall be undertaken with the seriousness and speed demanded by the type of matter subject to its jurisdiction.
  2. Proceedings before the Court may not be postponed, unless the postponment is required by the exercise of the right to defence; no postponment shall be for longer than 24 hours.
  3. Proceedings before the Election Appeals Court shall be public.

Art. 35: Jurisdiction of the Court

The Election Appeals Court shall adjudicate on claims and appeals related to decisions taken by the Central Election Commission, or on any other decision subject to appeal before the Court, according to the provisions of this Law.

Art. 36: Time limits for claiming and appealing, and for adjudicating

  1. Claims and appeals must be brought to the Court within 2 days from the notification to the parties concerned of the decision to which the objection is made. The Court shall not admit any claims or appeal filed after that period.
  2. The Election Appeals Court shall determine any such claims or appeals within 5 days from their filing.
  3. Claims and appeals may be brought to the Court through the National Election Office or any of the District Election Offices.

Art. 37: Representation before the Court

  1. The Election Appeals Court shall not admit any demand filed without the signature of a practising lawyer, and shall no hear any case without the presence of a practising lawyer.
  2. The Central Election Commission shall be represented before the Court by any of its legal advisers.
Comments Central Election Commission PLANET