CEC members visited Abay and East Kazakhstan regions

On February 27 and 28, CEC members Konstantin Petrov and Sabila Mustafina, as part of the early elections of members to the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, visited the East Kazakhstan region and Abay region with an inspection trip.

The trip to the regions was also attended by senior officials of the CEC administration.

Representatives of local executive bodies, regional prosecutor’s offices, members of territorial election commissions, representatives of campaign headquarters of candidates, long-term election observers from the OSCE/ODIHR took part in the workshop-meetings.

CEC Deputy Chairman Konstantin Petrov, at meetings with authorised state bodies and regional territorial election commissions, heard reports on the work carried out in the region on voter lists, organisational issues, logistics of polling stations, the creation of necessary conditions for citizens with disabilities, as well as the timely delivery of voting ballots to polling stations and other issues.

Thus, Kinigul Bichuinov, deputy head of the akim’s office of the East Kazakhstan region, informed that 499,085 residents of the region were included in the voter lists as of February 26.

In order to provide quality information to the population of the region, outreach work is being carried out through the media and social networks. 167 places have been identified for outdoor advertising. In addition, information videos and campaign videos of political parties are broadcast on LED screens.

To inform the population about the attachment to polling stations in the cities and districts of the region, 12 CALL-centres function under the akimats. One can also check the correctness of registration at the polling stations through the Find Your Polling Station service of the Electronic Services Centre portal and the DigitalEast mobile application.

The boundaries of all 533 polling stations have been clarified. All constituencies and precincts are ready to work. Their functioning will be organised taking into account the current legislation, sanitary standards and public safety.

470 places were determined (in the regional centre – 33, in cities and districts – 437) for the placement of campaign printed materials equipped with stands, billboards and pedestals. 200 places have been identified for meetings of candidates with voters.

In order to ensure the physical accessibility of polling stations for persons with disabilities, voting arrangements have been resolved at 264 polling stations for 1,784 voters with special needs.

650 voters out of 1,784 use wheelchairs, 700 with complete loss of vision, 434 with complete loss of hearing and speech.

To date, 495 precincts are located on the first floors, 472 are equipped with ramps, 482 are equipped with tactile signs. In 424 – booths for secret voting will be provided, taking into account the access of voters with impaired functions of the musculoskeletal system. Corners for persons with disabilities will be equipped in 502 precincts.

On the voting day, Invataxi services will be organised in 13 settlements where citizens with special needs live. Sign language interpreters will be involved in 113 polling stations.

Also, within the workshop-meeting, head of the department for the protection of public interests of the prosecutor’s office of the East Kazakhstan region Zhandos Konyrov informed about the implementation of supervision over compliance with the law by participants of the electoral process during the election campaign.

Zhasulan Sarsebayev, head of the akim’s administration of the Abay region, informed that 416,030 citizens were included in the voter lists in the region.

Find your polling station search services also operate in the region on the websites of the akimat of the region, akimats of cities and districts. Services allow to get information about the polling station by indicating the IIN and address. There are also Call-centres in cities and regions. To simplify the receipt of reference information on the territory of the region in 24/7 mode, there is a unified contact centre at the 109 free dial.

To date, 11 territorial, 141 district and 478 precinct election commissions have been formed.

All 478 polling stations are prepared for work, logistically provided.

He also said that in the region the number of people with disabilities is 2,687 people, including wheelchair users – 916, with complete and partial loss of vision – 1,179, with hearing and speech loss – 592.

All polling stations are equipped with the necessary conditions for persons with disabilities, including ramps and tactile signs.

Also, 15 mobile ramps will be additionally installed at polling stations at the place of registration of citizens on voting day. It is planned to organise a corner for persons with disabilities at 395 polling stations. It is also planned to attract 6 sign language interpreters who, if necessary, will provide services online.

On the voting day, 16 cars will provide the Invataxi services.

During the meetings, members of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov and Sabila Mustafina explained to the members of territorial election commissions all the novelties of the electoral legislation, the features of the current election campaign, and noted that the election commissions should keep under control all main activities for the preparation and holding of early elections of members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats and be ready to conduct this important and responsible campaign for the country in strict accordance with the law.

Within the framework of the workshop-meeting for the territorial election commissions, a training session was also held in the form of a business game. During the training, members of election commissions demonstrated the voting process at the polling stations, covering all its components. They showed how precinct election commissions will work on election day, starting with the opening of polling stations, registering voters, issuing ballots, and ending with the completion of all work.