On December 29, 2020, meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held

Meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held as part of the election campaign for the elections of deputies to the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021.

The following issues were considered at the meeting:

1. On implementation of an online service for checking information at the place of registration of citizens on the Electronic Government portal at the regular elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021;

2. On the course of consideration of applications of individuals and legal entities received by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the stage of pre-election campaigning at the elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021;

3. On accreditation of observers of international organizations and foreign states for the regular elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021;

4. On consideration of the resolution of the Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when organizing and conducting voting in elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021;

5. On amendments to the Resolution of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated June 25, 2007 No. 90/174 “On approval of information on candidates, political parties that have nominated party lists placed in the premises of the election commission and the premises (units) for voting.

Konstantin Petrov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, made a report on the first issue.

He informed that in accordance with the Constitutional Act "On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan" every citizen shall have the right to check data about himself/herself in the voter lists and appeal against non-inclusion, incorrect inclusion in the list or exclusion from the list, as well as inaccuracies in the voter data made in the list.

Since December 26 this year, citizens have been given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the voter lists in the premises of the relevant election commissions, as well as to check the correctness of the data on voters entered in them.

To include a citizen in the voter list at a particular polling station, he/she must be registered at the place of residence on the territory of this polling station. Considering that since November 1, 2019, the state service for providing address information in the Republic of Kazakhstan has been canceled, the Central Election Commission, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, worked out the issue of implementing an online service for checking information at the place of citizens' registration on the "electronic government" portal. Thus, at 4,071 polling stations, members of election commissions will have access through the E-gov portal to information about the place of registration of citizens.

If a citizen is not found in the voter list, a member of a precinct election commission, on the basis of a written application from a citizen, verifies the registration information at the applicant's place of residence through an online service.

When confirming information about permanent registration at the place of residence of the applicant on the territory within the boundaries of the corresponding polling station on the page of the online service, the precinct election commission decides on his/her inclusion in the voter list.

If the information about the applicant's permanent registration at the place of residence within the boundaries of the polling station is not confirmed, the precinct election commission makes a reasoned decision to refuse to be included in the voter list and issues a copy to the applicant.

Based on the above, the members of the CEC adopted a joint resolution of the CEC and the order of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On implementation of an online service for verifying information at the place of registration of citizens on the" electronic government" portal.

Yerlan Dauylbayev, member of the Central Election Commission, spoke on the second issue of the agenda. He reported on the process of considering applications received by the Central Election Commission at the stage of pre-election campaign.

Thus, according to the report, from December 10 to 28 this year, the Central Election Commission received 29 applications, including: 12 from legal entities, 3 from the media, 14 from individuals. By the nature of the appeals received - 76% (22) - on explanation of the electoral legislation; 7% (2) - on providing information on organization of the electoral process; 17% (5) - applications.

Out of 29 appeals received during the specified period: the CEC administration gave comprehensive answers to 12 appeals in due time; in accordance with the legislation 5 appeals were left without consideration: among them were the applications of 4 citizens, since they did not set out the essence of the issue, as well as one repeated appeal, which did not set out new arguments, 12 applications are pending. There are no unanswered appeals.

In the period from October 22 to December 28, 2020, the CEC received notifications of public opinion polls from 11 legal entities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. When the Central Election Commission considered these notifications, as well as copies of documents, it was established that 10 legal entities have documents that meet the requirements established by the Constitutional Act on Elections.

Also, within the framework of the report, Yerlan Dauylbayev said that the Central Election Commission had built a system of measures together with other state bodies to organize explanatory work. In particular, given that the overwhelming majority of applications from individuals and legal entities relate to issues of clarification of electoral legislation, the Ministry of Justice has provided legal advice to the population and organizations from December 10 of this year through a Call Center operating on the basis of the Republican State Enterprise "Institute of Legislation and Legal Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a Legal Information Service with a single number 119 for the republic. As part of the Call Center's activity, the work of consultant operators is organized through various communication channels (telephone, voice bot, virtual consultant, online messenger WhatsApp) and the heading "Get legal advice" on platform of the "Adilet" Information and reference system of regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Anastassiya Schegortsova, member of the Central Election Commission, made a report on the third issue of the meeting. She reported that as of December 29, 2020, applications of 98 observers from 7 international organizations and 11 foreign states were additionally submitted for accreditation to the Central Election Commission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

72 observers from seven international organizations have been submitted for accreditation, including: Observer Mission from the CIS - 29 observers; CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly - 19 observers; Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States - 7 observers; CSTO Parliamentary Assembly - 6 observers; Limited Election Observation Mission of the OSCE/ODIHR - 1 observer; SCO Observer Mission - 1 observer; Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking states - 9 observers.

26 candidates from 11 foreign states, were submitted for accreditation, including from five foreign states - by 1 observer each (Hungary, Spain, Palestine, Poland, Czech Republic); from three foreign countries - by 2 observers; (Italy, France, Estonia); from Ukraine - 4 observers; Germany - 5 observers; Belgium - 6 observers.

In total, 374 observers from 9 international organizations have been accredited since the beginning of election campaign (CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly - 48; CIS Executive Committee - 177; OIC - 4, OSCE/ODIHR - 39; OSCE PA - 9; SCO - 15; Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States - 7; CSTO PA - 6; Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking states - 9 and 26 foreign countries (Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Moldova, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, RF, Romania, India, Philippines, Hungary, Spain, Norway, France, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Estonia, Ukraine, Germany, Belgium, Palestine).

In accordance with the Constitutional Act on Elections, accreditation of observers from foreign states and international organizations ends at 18:00 local time five days before voting day, that is, at 18:00 on January 4, 2021. In this regard, as submissions for accreditation are received, data on observers will be updated.

Following consideration of the third issue, the Central Election Commission adopted a resolution on accreditation of observers from international organizations and foreign states.

Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Kiyassov spoke on the fourth issue of the agenda.

Thus, in accordance with his report, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19 among the population on election day, all participants in the electoral process shall:

1) observe the requirement of wearing disposable medical or protective masks and gloves upon arrival at the polling station;

2) use hand sanitizers with antiseptic agent installed at the polling station;

3) observe social distancing - no less than 1.5 - 2 meters from each other;

4) avoid shaking hands or other forms of direct contact;

5) use personal ball-pens.

In regions that are in red and yellow zones in terms of the spread of COVID-19 all members of election commissions, proxies and observers on election day, no earlier than 5 days before the start of election shall undergo a laboratory examination using the PCR test. Persons with positive laboratory test results will not be admitted to polling stations.

Depending on epidemiological situation in the region, on election day, all participants in the electoral process shall comply with requirements for ensuring sanitary security measures established by Chief sanitary doctors of respective regions.

Member of the Central Election Commission Asylbek Smagulov made a report on the final issue of the meeting.

He said that the Central Election Commission Resolution No. 90/174 of June 25, 2007 “On Approval of Information on Candidates, Political Parties Nominating Party Lists Placed in the Election Commission and the Premises (Units) for Voting” established a unified format for information on political party lists posted in premises of election commission and polling station.

The following changes were made to this resolution at the meeting of the Central Election Commission:

1) size of information poster on political parties that have nominated party lists is increased and defined as A3 format (i.e. 42 x 29.7 centimeters).

2) political party provides information on goals and objectives of the party provided by the charter.

3) full amount of information in state and Russian languages (no more than one A4 sheet, font size 14 Times New Roman, one line spacing, total number of printed characters shall be no more than 2000).

Changes introduced shall provide for preparation of information posters in a format that is more visual and convenient for voters.

After the meeting, briefing for the media was held, at which members of the CEC answered questions from the media.

Press service

Central Election Commission

of the Republic of Kazakhstan

tel. 75-21-03, 75-23-69

a.khusainova@election.gov.kz

v.zheksembekova@election.gov.kz

https://t.me/electionelection