Members of the CEC continue a series of field workshop-meetings in the regions of the country on the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

On November 3-5 this year Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov and member of the Central Election Commission Sabila Mustafina held workshop-meetings in the East Kazakhstan region and Abai region on the preparation and conduct of early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

The workshop-meetings were attended by members of territorial and precinct election commissions, representatives of the campaign headquarters of candidates, the media, authorised state bodies, as well as the Missions of the OSCE/ODIHR and the CIS. A total of 613 people took part in the events. 

In the first part of the workshop-meetings, CEC members heard reports from authorised state bodies and members of election commissions on the work carried out in the regions on voter lists, organisational, logistical support for elections, ensuring the physical accessibility of polling stations for citizens with disabilities, and overseeing compliance with the rule of law of the participants of the electoral process in terms of electoral legislation, ensuring law and order at polling stations on voting day, protection and delivering ballots. 

Thus, chairman of the TEC of the East Kazakhstan region Y. Nabiyev informed that there are 537 polling stations in the region, where 3,525 members of commissions work. Voter lists were handed over to polling stations on October 30, 2022, and from November 4, they were presented to voters for review. Also, 4,967 absentee ballots were produced and handed over to polling stations. To notify voters about the time and place of voting, 400,000 invitations have been made, which will be delivered to voters in a timely manner. 

Head of the Department of Social Protection of the East Kazakhstan Region A. Mussinova reported that 284 polling stations have been identified where citizens with disabilities vote. In total, out of 537 polling stations in the region, 533 are located on the first floors, 469 stations are equipped with ramps, 429 (85%) are equipped with various tactile signs. In 475 polling stations, booths for secret voting will be provided, taking into account the access of voters with impaired functions of the musculoskeletal system, including those using wheelchairs. On voting day, invataxi services will be organised in 13 settlements where citizens with disabilities live. 

Chairman of the Abai regional TEC N. Fessenko reported that as of November 1, the number of election commissions in the region was 486, members of commissions – 3,290 people. At 125 polling stations, where the number of voters is more than 1,500 people, a service will be organised to check the registration of citizens, at 5 polling stations the work of mobile public service centres will be organised. 

Head of the Department of Social Protection of the Abai region A. Sultanova informed that all stations are equipped with the necessary resources for people with disabilities, 434 have ramps, 384 have tactile signs at the entrance, 371 stations have tactile signs inside. 

There are call buttons for people with disabilities, Braille tactile signs, reflective yellow stripes. On voting day, 16 cars will provide invataxi services in 3 settlements (12 in Semey city, 3 in Ayagoz district, and 1 in Zharma district). In other regions, if necessary, persons with disabilities will be provided with transportation during the voting, transport will be on duty during the entire election period. 

In the second part of the program of workshop-meetings, CEC members conducted trainings in the form of a business game based on case technology for territorial and precinct election commissions. 

Thus, the practical skills of members of election commissions were tested on the algorithm of actions on voting day, including preparing a polling station for voting day, issuing ballots, accompanying ballot boxes for voting outside the premises, the algorithm for counting votes, drawing up protocols on the results of voting, and others. CEC members asked clarifying questions about the algorithm of actions of members of election commissions and reminded them that the main task in organising the voting procedure is to ensure its transparency. 

After the workshop, CEC members visited polling stations in the regions. In particular, the readiness of the polling stations of the Ulan district of the East Kazakhstan region and the Borodulikha district of the Abay region was checked. The election commissions received methodological and advisory assistance from members of the CEC.