Press release on field workshops in the Zhambyl and Atyrau regions

As part of the preparation and holding of early elections of members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for March 19, 2023, Secretary of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman visited the Zhambyl region and member of the Central Election Commission Shavkhat Utemissov visited the Atyrau region.

The main objectives of the inspection trip are to explain the novelties of the electoral legislation, provide methodological assistance to members of the election commissions, and also check the readiness of the regions for the upcoming elections.

On March 11, as part of a trip to the Zhambyl region, Mukhtar Yerman held a meeting with representatives of local executive bodies, the regional prosecutor’s office, the police department, members of territorial election commissions, representatives of campaign headquarters of candidates, international observers and the media.

Representatives of the long-term OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Maria Faglevaag Varsinka-Varsi (Norway) and Andrew Yurkovsky (USA) were also invited.

At the meeting, reports of regional state bodies on the work being done to organise the elections were provided.

Head of the Akim’s Administration of the Zhambyl region Madi Maten, informed that the number of voters in the region amounted to 717,090 people, for whom 499 polling stations will work.

All polling stations are provided with the necessary equipment. Also, 308 places have been identified in the region for placement of campaign printed materials of candidates, 356 billboards and LED screens have been allocated.

11 CALL-centres have been established in Taraz and districts to provide consulting services to the population. The information portal www.e-jambyl.kz also provides an online service to search for polling station by IIN, a telegram bot functions.

The work of 260 online services for confirming voter registration and 7 services for organising voting for citizens who do not have permanent or temporary registration will be organised.

Sergali Aidapkelov, Chairman of the Territorial Election Commission of the Zhambyl region, also made a report on the work done, and said that 692 single-seat territorial constituencies have been registered to date. Of these, 12 candidates for Mazhilis Members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan in No. 15 and No. 16 constituencies, 70 candidates for the regional maslikhat in 18 constituencies, 92 candidates for the city maslikhat in 27 constituencies and 518 candidates for district maslikhats in 147 constituencies.

72 candidates were registered for 18 deputy seats of the regional maslikhat, elected according to party lists.

In accordance with the calendar plan, work is being carried out at the polling stations to familiarise citizens with the voter lists and verify the accuracy of the entered data. Necessary measures have been taken to inform voters about the time and place of voting, invitations to elections have been prepared for voters.

Precinct commissions, together with local volunteers, organised the delivery of notifications to voters at their addresses.

Particular attention was paid to ensuring the electoral rights of citizens with disabilities. Yerkin Kelessov, Head of the Department for the Coordination of Employment and Social Programmes, informed about this area of work.

According to him, today there are 2,541 voters with disabilities in the region who need special conditions for voting. Ramps, tactile signs at the entrance and tactile stripes inside buildings are provided for them at all polling stations.

On election day, 27 sign language interpreters will work online and it is planned to organise the operation of 28 Invataxi cars.

Also during the meeting, representatives of the regional prosecutor’s office and the police department spoke, who informed about the ongoing work to ensure compliance with the law by the participants of the electoral process, as well as the protection of public order and safety of citizens.

In the second part of the workshop, Mukhtar Yerman held a meeting with members of the district and territorial election commissions, where he explained the novelties of the electoral legislation and the features of this election campaign, and also answered numerous questions from members of the commissions.

After that, Voting Day business game was held, during which members of the election commissions were trained in practice in the conduct of elections.

On March 13-14, member of the Central Election Commission Shavkhat Utemissov held a similar travelling workshop-meeting in the Atyrau region, where he visited some polling stations and inspected their readiness for the upcoming elections.

Shavkhat Utemissov held a meeting with members of the regional election commission and local government bodies, after hearing reports on the work done.

Bulat Issakov, Head of the Administration of the Regional Akim, reported that 412,165 people were included in the voter list of the region.

In order to increase the activity of the population, a service is provided on the website of the regional akimat for finding oneself in the voter lists, a telegram bot has been launched, and 8 Call-centres have started working in the region to advise citizens on all issues related to elections.

In addition, during the election campaign in the region, a service is available at 174 polling stations to determine the address of voter registration.

He also informed that there are 269 polling stations in the region. All precincts are fully equipped.

Regarding the temporary registration of citizens on voting day, Bulat Issakov noted that in Atyrau this opportunity would be provided at 5 polling stations.

In terms of campaigning activities in the region, 158 places have been identified for placement of campaigning and printed materials and 92 premises for meetings with voters. 528 places were additionally allocated for placing informational billboards about the elections.

Alfiya Tolegariyeva, Deputy Head of the Department of Employment and Social Programmes, informed about ensuring the electoral rights of citizens with disabilities, who said that the number of voters in need of special conditions is 2091 people.

All voting precincts in Atyrau and districts are located on the first floors of buildings. Polling stations are equipped with ramps, tactile stripes, information signs. Polling stations are additionally equipped with corners for persons with disabilities, where magnifiers, Braille information materials, additional lighting, etc. are provided. On election day, polling stations will be provided with sign language interpreters and invataxi will be organised.

Chairman of the Territorial Election Commission of the region Azamat Aymanakumov informed about the work done. He reported that there are 365 election commissions in the region (9 territorial, 87 district, 269 precinct), which employ 2429 members of the commissions.

A total of 445 candidates were registered, including 12 candidates for the Mazhilis, 61 candidates in 6 party lists for the regional maslikhat, 40 candidates for 15 single-seat constituencies for the regional maslikhat, 71 candidates for Atyrau city maslikhat, 261 candidates for 7 district maslikhats.

Representatives of the regional prosecutor’s office and the police department spoke about the ongoing work to ensure oversight of compliance with the law during the election campaign, as well as the protection of public order and the safety of citizens.

In the second part of the workshop-meetings for the members of the territorial election commissions, trainings were held in the form of a business game, the members of the election commissions demonstrated the voting process at the polling stations covering the entire voting process. They showed how precinct election commissions will work on election day, including the process of opening polling stations, issuing ballots, organising voting, registering observers, voting by absentee ballot certificates, vote count and tabulating polling results.

Thus, CEC members completed inspection trips to all 20 regions to provide methodological and practical assistance to election commissions for the upcoming elections.

During the inspection visits to the regions, the members of the Central Election Commission got acquainted with the work of the territorial and district election commissions and made sure that the polling stations were ready.