39 polling stations for the upcoming presidential election have been set up abroad.  They have been set up at Tajikistan’s embassies, consulates and representative offices. 

Chairman of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzda, yesterday held the next meeting to discuss issues related to preparing and holding the upcoming presidential election in the country.  

According to the CCER press center, 39 polling stations for the upcoming presidential election have been set up at Tajikistan’s embassies, consulates and representative offices in 29 countries.  

By CCER’s decision 68 constituencies have been sent up in Tajikistan   

Recall, Tajikistan's parliament has set October 11 as the date for the country's next presidential election.  The resolution on the election date was approved on August 6 during a joint session of both chamber of parliament.     

Tajikistan  has  a  strong  presidential  system  in  which  the  executive  branch  exercises  wide  authority  relative  to  the  parliament.

Presidential elections are regulated by the Constitution and the Constitutional Law on Elections of the President.

The upcoming presidential election will be the third since a 2003 constitutional amendment extended the term of the president from five to seven years and allowed the incumbent to stand for two additional consecutive terms.

The previous presidential election took place in Tajikistan on November 6, 2013.

Amendments made to the country’s law on election of the president in May 2016, in particular, provide for lowering the minimum age to run for president from 35 to 30.

These amendments are based on constitutional amendments adopted in May 2016.  The most important changes included: amending Article 65 to remove term limits on the incumbent President Emomali Rahmon, who owns the status of the “Leader of the Nation”; lowering the minimum age to run for president and for parliament’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) from 35 to 30; and banning political parties based on religious platforms.  On a practical level, incumbent President Emomali Rahmon would be allowed to run for re-election indefinitely under the changes.  The reduction in minimum age to run for president allows Rahmon's son Rustam Emomali to run for president, because he would be 33 at the end of his father's current term.

According to official figures, the changes were approved by 96.6% of voters. Voter turnout was claimed to be 92%.

The President of Tajikistan is elected for a term of seven years using the two-round system; if no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, a second round is held between 15 and 31 days later between the top two candidates.  Voter turnout must exceed 50% for the result to be validated; if it falls below the threshold, fresh elections will be held.

Candidates are required to gather and submit signatures from 5% of registered voters in order to run in the elections.

Emomali Rahmon, who is in power since 1992, may seek a new term in office.  It is speculated that his son Rustam Emomali or a close ally could run if he does not.

Candidates for president are required to know the state language and to have lived in Tajikistan for the past ten years.

The  election  campaign  starts  once  candidate  registration  is  completed  and  ends  24  hours  before  election  day.  The CCER is required to provide equal campaign conditions for all candidates. Election  commissions  and  local  authorities  are  responsible  to  assist  candidates  in  organizing  campaign events.

No election in Tajikistan has been judged as free and fair since its independence from the Soviet Union.