SECTION V. ELECTION SYSTEM, REFERENDUM
Article 119
Elections of the President of Turkmenistan, deputies of the Mejlis, members of the halk maslahaty (Peoples Council) and Gengesh shall be held by universal and equal suffrage. The citizens of Turkmenistan, who attained the age of 18, shall have the right to vote; each voter shall have one vote.
Citizens recognized by the court as legally incapable, as well as serving sentence in prisons, shall not participate in elections. Limiting the electoral rights of citizens in other cases shall not be acceptable, and shall be punishable by law.
Article 120
A citizen of Turkmenistan who has attained the age of 25 and has lived [continuously] in Turkmenistan for the past ten years, can be elected as deputy of the Mejlis.
The requirements for candidates for membership of the Mejlis, Halk maslahaty and Gengeshes shall be defined by laws of Turkmenistan.
Article 121
Elections shall be direct and the elected persons shall be elected directly by the citizens.
Article 122
Voting in elections shall be by secret ballot, manipulation of the will of the voters during voting shall not be permitted.
Article 123
The right to nominate candidates shall be exercised in accordance with the legislation of Turkmenistan.
Article 124
National and local referenda may be carried out in order to address major issues of state and public life.
Decisions adopted by referenda may be repealed or amended only through referendum.
Article 125
The right to conduct national referendum shall belong to the Mejlis of Turkmenistan upon proposal of at least two-third of the total number of deputies, or on the petition of no less than 250 000 eligible voters.
Article 126
The right to conduct local referenda shall belong to the Gengesh on its initiative, or at the suggestion of no less than one quarter of voters residing in the respective territory.
Article 127
Referenda shall be held through universal, equal, direct and secret vote.
Citizens of Turkmenistan with electoral rights shall participate in referenda.
Article 128
The procedure for conduct of elections, national and local referenda, shall be determined by law. The elections and referenda shall not be held during the period of state of emergency and martial law.
