Legal Definitions and Terms
Special Election Court
The Special Electoral Court is the independent and permanent judicial authority with jurisdiction over all disputes, complaints, violations, and crimes relating to elections and referenda. This Court shall receive no instructions from any branch, party, government, military institution, security body, or intelligence body, and shall act solely on the basis of law. Judges of this Court shall be selected through a multi stage and anti infiltration mechanism, in such a manner that no single branch or office may alone appoint or remove them. The term of service of the judges of this Court shall be limited, not subject to immediate renewal, and accompanied by a prohibition on partisan and electoral affiliation. Removal of a judge of this Court shall be permissible only by order of a higher judicial authority and only in cases of grave misconduct, corruption, manifest incapacity, or loss of the legal qualifications. The budget of this Court shall be independent, fixed, and not subject to suspension or قطع by the government or by any executive authority. This Court shall not be merely a court for election day, but shall at all times be responsible for adjudicating electoral crimes, exercising judicial oversight over the implementation of electoral law, and hearing complaints relating to voter registration, candidate disqualification, districting, campaigning, financial resources, and the conduct of electoral executive bodies.
Permanent Functions of the Special Electoral Court
1.Adjudication of complaints relating to voter registration
2. Adjudication of objections relating to the registration or disqualification of candidates
3. Adjudication of electoral financial violations and unlawful funds
4. Adjudication of complaints relating to districting and the division of electoral districts
5. Adjudication of violations committed by the National Elections Institution and its officials
6. Adjudication of electoral crimes such as threats, bribery, vote buying, data manipulation, and ballot stuffing
7. Issuance of immediate orders to halt violations during the electoral process
8. Maintenance of judicial precedent and uniform interpretation in electoral matters
9. Specialized judicial training for judges and personnel connected with electoral cases
10. Publication of annual reports on electoral integrity and electoral violations
Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a voter through that voter’s unique biological characteristics, such as a fingerprint or facial image, within the official electoral system. This method shall be used solely to ensure the presence of the actual person, to prevent duplicate voting, and to prevent voting in the name of another, and its use for any other purpose is prohibited.
One Time Token
A one time token is an electronic or recorded authorization that is issued only once and only for that particular vote after the voter’s identity has been fully authenticated. This token permits the casting of only one valid vote, and upon use, it shall immediately lose its validity and shall not be repeatable, transferable, or reusable.
Official Electoral System
The official electoral system is the electronic and officially recorded system used solely for the administration, registration, control, and verification of the lawful stages of elections and referendums. This system is used for voter authentication, recording voting status, recording administrative data, recording results, recording complaints, and maintaining official electoral records.
This system must be under the control of the National Electoral Authority, must include time and operation logs, must be subject to judicial review, and must be protected against interference, deletion, manipulation, or use outside the law.
Digital Logs
Digital logs are time stamped and officially recorded electronic records that document all operations carried out within electoral systems and devices. These records include times of entry and exit, authentication, token issuance, vote recording, ballot printing, errors, interruptions, restarts, status changes, and every technical or administrative action related to the electoral process.
Digital logs shall be used for tracking, verification, detection of violations, legal review, and preservation of the transparency of the electoral process, and their unlawful deletion, manipulation, or alteration is prohibited.
Senate in Iran
Exception: Formation of the First Senate After the Transitional Period
In the first Senate election, each province shall elect two senators. Thereafter, a drawing of lots shall be conducted between the two so that one shall serve an initial term of three years and the other shall serve an initial term of six years. Thereafter, all seats shall be elected for six year terms, and every three years only one half of the seats of the Senate shall be renewed.