Members of the Central Election Commission visited Almaty city, 

Pavlodar, Kyzylorda and Almaty regions on a working trip

As part of organising and holding early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, members of the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan continue a series of field workshop-meetings in the regions of the country. 

On November 9 this year, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Konstantin Petrov visited the Pavlodar region, on November 10-12 together with member of the Central Election Commission Sabila Mustafina he visited Almaty city and Almaty region, Secretary of the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Yerman visited Kyzylorda region on November 10. 

Members of territorial and precinct election commissions, representatives of the campaign headquarters of candidates, the media, authorised state bodies, as well as observers of the OSCE/ODIHR and the CIS Missions took part in the workshop-meetings. 

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 by participants of the electoral process of electoral legislation, ensuring law and order at polling stations on voting day, protection and delivering ballots. 

Head of office of the akim of the Pavlodar region D. Ibrayev reported that 510,847 citizens were included in the voter lists in the region. On October 30 this year voter lists have been handed over to polling stations, since November 4, the lists have been presented to citizens for familiarisation. 

In total, there are 528 polling stations in the region, 21 of which have limited access. According to the akimats of cities and districts, voting premises at all polling stations are equipped in accordance with the Instructions of the Central Election Commission. Moreover, the emergency authorities checked the buildings for technical equipment. 

For the convenience of clarifying the polling station, there are services for searching information about the polling station through the search service by IIN on the telegram bot @President_sailau_2022_pvl_bot. Services allow to get information about the polling station, the number and address of the polling station. Call-centres work in all 13 akimats. There is a call centre for voters based on the Unified Contact Centre 109. 

Head of the Department for the Coordination of Employment and Social Programs of the Pavlodar Region A. Dissyupova informed that in total there are more than 3.3 thousand voters with disabilities in the region who need special conditions for voting. In this regard, all necessary measures are being taken in the region to create conditions for unhindered access to polling stations for citizens with disabilities. All polling stations are located on the first floors of buildings. Provision is made for the placement of ballot boxes and booths at an accessible level for voting by persons with disabilities using wheelchairs. Areas for persons with disabilities at 488 polling stations have been organised, 522 polling stations are equipped with booths, it is planned to attract 5 sign language interpreters. 18 Invataxi services will be available on the voting day. To exercise the electoral rights of persons with disabilities who are not able to visit polling stations, off-premise commissions with a portable ballot box will be organised. 

In turn, head of the akimat office of the Kyzylorda region S. Baymanov reported that 2,710 commission members work in the region. The total number of voters included in the voter list in the Kyzylorda region is 482,934 people. On October 30 this year voter lists have been handed over to polling stations, since November 4, the lists have been presented to citizens for familiarisation. 

In order to clarify their polling station, citizens have the opportunity to call the Call Centre and use the service to check themselves in the voter lists saylau.orda.gov.kz. It is also possible to check voter lists through the telegram bot (sailau_kzoBot) and the Smart Qyzylorda mobile application. To date, more than 12,000 requests have been received.  

In order to widely inform the population about the elections, videos were posted on regional television, banners were placed on the territory of the region, information materials were published in local media and social networks. 

The regional election commission organised training courses for 800 members of election commissions in all districts and in Kyzylorda city. 

In the Kyzylorda region, more than 31 thousand people with disabilities are registered today, 20,071 of which have the right to participate in elections. At all polling stations, conditions have been created for voting by persons with disabilities. The monitoring group established in the districts and Kyzylorda city is constantly working to study the complete adaptation of stations. 32 invataxi service will operate during the elections to transport people with disabilities. 

According to deputy head of the akim’s office of Almaty, K. Sukhambekov, on election day 600 polling stations will operate in the city. More than 1 million 170 thousand people are included in the voter lists, a city call centre with a single number 1315 has been launched. On the website of the public reception of the akimat of Almaty Open Almaty, a service has been developed that allows to check oneself in the voter lists. A similar service has been launched via Telegram bot - @almaty_sailau2022_bot. To date, more than 70,000 people have already checked themselves in the voter lists. 

There are more than 43,000 people with disabilities who have the right to vote in Almaty, and 6,209 people need special conditions for voting. Access for persons with disabilities is provided at all polling stations. All polling stations are located on the first floors, there are ramps and tactile signs. Special booths for secret voting, as well as computers with a monitor, where the necessary information is placed in an adapted format for citizens with disabilities are also provided at polling stations. 54 taxis will be involved on the voting day as well.
In the Almaty region, 606 polling stations will operate on voting day, 21 of them with limited access. 

In total, 42,171 persons with disabilities are registered in the region. Premises of 606 polling stations for voting are located on the first floors of buildings. Handrails have been installed at the entrance to the voting premises in 572 polling stations, tactile signs are available at 390 polling stations. In addition, areas and booths for persons with disabilities have been set in 585 polling stations. 

Also, on the day of voting in all districts and cities of the region, 18 invataxi vehicles will be involved to deliver voters to polling stations. 

M. Kaliaskarov, Head of the Police Department of the Almaty Region, reported on ensuring the protection of public order, public and road safety during the preparation and holding of early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He said that the internal affairs bodies will work out all the facilities where voting will be held, and all necessary measures will be taken to ensure proper and road safety. 

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, etc. 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 workshops, CEC members visited polling stations in the regions. The election commissions received methodological and advisory assistance from members of the CEC.