Members of the Central Election Commission interact with international 

organisations and visited regions on the preparation and conduct of early 

elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan continues constructive interaction with international organisations. Upon the invitation of Director of the OSCE/ODIHR Office Matteo Mecacci, Secretary of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman took part in the round table on the topic “Good Practices in Implementing Election Recommendations,” which took place on October 27 this year in Bishkek. Heads and representatives of the central electoral bodies of Albania, Armenia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan shared their experience. The round table was moderated by ex-Director of the OSCE/ODIHR Office, Ambassador Audrey Glover. 

In his speech, M. Yerman emphasised that the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan and the ODIHR office since February this year switched to constant consultations mode, including in the inter-electoral period. 

M. Yerman noted that the OSCE/ODIHR Mission positively assessed the work of the Central Commission for the referendum of Kazakhstan following the results of the June 5 this year referendum on amendments and additions to the Constitution. In the Mission’s report published on October 5 this year, it was noted “The Central Referendum Commission, as well as the territorial and precinct commissions, were provided with the necessary resources and worked effectively, in a timely manner and to a large extent transparently. Long-awaited measures have been taken to make the referendum accessible to voters with disabilities. 

This is an important document for the Kazakh side, which will be carefully studied and discussed with interested state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, experts and practitioners of the electoral process. Thus, in the near future, the renewed composition of the Expert Council at the Central Election Commission will consider at its meeting the Report of the ODIHR mission on the results of the referendum.  

M. Yerman informed his colleagues about the meeting of CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov with Head of the Observer Mission Urszula Gacek in the context of the current campaign for the election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, during which members of the Mission were invited to participate in meetings and training events of the Central Election Commission. 

M. Yerman also held bilateral meetings with Audrey Glover, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan Nurzhan Shaildabekova, members of other delegations, who confirmed their intention to come to observe the early elections of the President of Kazakhstan. 

On October 28-30 this year members of the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan travelled to the regions of the country on the preparation and holding of early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In particular, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Konstantin Petrov visited Kostanay, members of the Central Election Commission Sabila Mustafina – Akmola, Shavkhat Utemissov – West Kazakhstan region. 

In the regions, members of the Central Election Commission held workshop-meetings with representatives of territorial and precinct election commissions, state bodies, campaign headquarters of candidates, political parties and the media, where more than 700 people took part. In the first part of the workshop-meetings, members of the CEC informed the participants about the specifics of the preparation and conduct of presidential elections. Thus, the features of the main stages of the election campaign, the results of the nomination and registration of candidates for the presidency, ensuring the electoral rights of persons with disabilities, electoral education, etc. were considered in detail. 

In turn, the authorised state bodies reported to the CEC members on the work carried out in the regions on voter lists, organisational, logistical support for the elections, ensuring the physical accessibility of polling stations for citizens with disabilities, overseeing compliance with the electoral legislation by participants in the electoral process, ensuring law and order in polling stations on voting day, security and delivery of ballot papers. 

The practical part of the workshop was carried out for members of the TEC and PEC in the form of a business game using practice-oriented methods and working out the algorithm of actions on the voting day. 

Based on the results of the workshop-meetings, CEC members voiced proposals to improve the efficiency of the work of territorial and precinct election commissions. 

Also, as part of the trips, members of the Central Election Commission visited polling stations and got acquainted with their readiness for the voting day.