1. When exceptional circumstances
do not allow an Assembly part-session to be held under normal conditions,
namely in the physical presence of all members, and make it impossible
to hold an election by secret ballot during that part-session in
accordance with the usual procedure, the Bureau
of the Assembly may decide that the election shall be held by individual
electronic voting or by postal voting, provided that the conditions
of security, confidentiality and accessibility, which it deems necessary,
are guaranteed. The decision of the Bureau shall be taken by a simple
majority of the votes cast with a quorum of one third of the members.
2. This alternative electoral
procedure shall ensure the highest guarantees of transparency, accessibility,
security (including data protection), confidentiality, fairness
of the results and full and unquestionable credibility of the vote.
It shall guarantee equal rights and equal treatment of Assembly
members and delegations and ensure an equal playing field among
candidates.
3. Under the same circumstances,
the Bureau may decide that the procedure for electing the President
and Vice-Presidents of the Assembly (Rules 15 and 16), shall
be conducted by secret ballot using the electronic voting system.
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