On March 28, 2022, the working visit of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Nurlan Abdirov to Zhambyl region took place

On March 28, 2022, as part of a working trip to the Zhambyl region a large meeting of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Nurlan Abdirov was held with representatives of political parties, NGOs, media, public opinion leaders, bloggers, members of the region's election commissions. The event was attended by 523 people.

Issues and proposals of representatives of the local community and election organizers on improving the electoral system and electoral legislation were discussed, such as openness and transparency of elections, introduction of digital technologies, raising the status of observers and ensuring the necessary conditions for voters with disabilities.

During the meeting, the initiatives of the Message of the President to the people of Kazakhstan on the introduction of majoritarian and mixed electoral systems which are supported by the public of the region were also discussed.

An exchange of views on introduction of the institution of direct election of akims of the rural level took place. It was proposed that elected akims should undergo training to improve their professional, managerial and personal competencies before starting to perform their official duties since the effective work of the akimat is largely determined by professionalism of the akim himself.

In addition, representatives of public organizations of persons with disabilities raised issues of ensuring physical accessibility of polling stations and their equipment taking into account the needs of voters with disabilities as well as creation of special visual, graphic materials using Braille.

The head of the NGO "Mugedekter kogamy" Aigerim Dauletbayeva noted that public organizations of persons with disabilities support amendments to the electoral legislation, including 30% quota in the electoral party lists along with women and youth, persons with disabilities. In her opinion, it is necessary to provide for a similar quota in the election of maslikhat deputies.

In addition, Kaisar Aldakhmetov, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Mineral Fertilizers Plant of Kazphosphate LLP have put forward a proposal to create a temporary polling station for voting of voters working on a rotational basis at the plant since 70% of the plant's employees work in these conditions.

The participants of the meeting also raised the issue of prospects for possible conduct of electronic voting using biometric identification on example of such countries as Russia, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.

Following the meeting, representatives of civil society expressed support for initiatives of the Head of State to build a New Kazakhstan.

On the same day, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission met with youth of the region. The meeting was held at the Zhambyl Polytechnic Higher College.

During the meeting, youth representatives put forward a number of proposals including the introduction of electronic voting, holding mandatory pre-election debates among candidates for the position of akim as well as increasing the electoral culture among young people.

In addition, youth representatives expressed the opinion that political parties in the age of the Internet should be active on social networks such as Facebook and Instagram, especially during the electoral period since social networks today have become the main source of information specifically for young people. They also noted that social networks provide more opportunities for presenting content for young people.

During the meeting representatives of the Central Election Commission conducted an online survey among young people on some important issues of the electoral process: 26.3% of respondents support introduction of remote electronic voting using computers, smartphones, tablets. At the same time, 23.7% voted for stationary electronic voting at polling stations, 13.2% - for mixed electronic voting (stationary, remote). At the same time, 31.6% voted for the traditional form of voting by paper ballot.

Following the meeting, the Chairman of the CEC expressed gratitude to the youth of the region for an open, meaningful and interesting dialogue.

Meetings of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission with the public of Zhambyl region as in other regions were broadcast online on the official page of the Regional Communications Service on the Facebook social network https://fb.watch/c1pw6ewbl3/.