The Central Election Commission approved the Calendar plan of main activities for the preparation and conduct of elections of the deputies of Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for August 12, 2020

On June 12, 2020, there was meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter - the CEC) in the online mode, at which was adopted a Resolution "On approval of the Calendar plan of main activities for the preparation and conduct of elections of the deputies of Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for August 12, 2020".

Opening the meeting, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Berik Imashev noted that the term of office of the Senate deputies elected in 2014 ends in October of this year. Thereby, on August 12, 2020, 17 regions of the Republic would have to elect by one deputy each to the upper chamber of the country's highest legislative body.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Senate is formed by deputies who represent two people from each region, city of republic significance and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the procedure established by the Constitutional Act.

Deputies of the Senate are elected by secret ballot on the basis of indirect suffrage by electors – deputies of maslikhats, who are elected by citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in general elections.

The term of office of members of the Senate is six years. At the same time, half of them are re-elected every three years.

The Central Election Commission manages the organization and conduct of election of deputies of the Senate of Parliament. The relevant territorial election commission ensures preparation and conduct of elections of the deputies of the Parliament.

A report on the main phases of the electoral campaign was presented by Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov.

Thus, the nomination of candidates for deputies of the Senate of Parliament shall begin since the day that follows the day of calling an election, i.e. from June 13 and shall end at 18:00 pm by local time one month prior to the day of election, on July 12, 2020.

Candidates for deputies of the Senate of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan are nominated by maslikhats, as well as by self-nomination.

A deputy of the Senate may be a person who has reached thirty years of age, has a higher education and length of service of not less than five years, and has been a permanent resident for not less than three years on the territory of the respective region, city of republic significance or the capital of the Republic.

The citizens, who have been recognized by a court as legally incapable don't have the right to elect and be elected.

A candidate to deputy of the Senate of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan cannot be a person with a prior conviction, which has not been cancelled or withdrawn in the order established by Act, as well as a person, who has been found guilty of committing corruption crime and a corruption offense by the court in the order established by Act.

Upon admission of documents about intention of the candidate to stand for the elections of Senate from the corresponding administrative-territorial unit, the oblast, cities of republic significance or the capital election commission shall establish:

1) within three days the conformity of the candidate to the requirements of the Constitution and this Constitutional Act

2) within three days from the date of the end of a check shall issue for him/her the signature sheets for collection of electors’ signatures.

The candidate to the Senate deputy must be supported at least ten percent of votes of the total number of electors representing all maslikhats of the oblast, maslikhat of the cities of republic significance or the capital of the Republic, but not more than twenty five percent of the votes of electors from one maslikhat.

Registration of the candidates to the Senate deputies shall begin after receiving of all the necessary documents and shall end at 18:00 pm by local time twenty days prior to the day election, i.e. at 18:00 pm by local time on July 23, 2020.

Registration of the candidates to the deputies of the Senate of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be conducted, accordingly, by oblast, cities of republic significance and the capital election commissions with the decision of the oblast, city or district maslikhat on nomination of the candidate (in case of nomination by the maslikhat); application with the expression of his/her consent to run for the candidasy; protocol of the relevant election commission on the results of check of the electors’ signatures in support of the candidate; the biographic data of the candidate; a reference from tax body confirming that the candidate and his/her spouse have submitted declarations on income and property; the document certificating that the candidate has made an election contribution in the amount of 637 500 tenge.

Pre-election campaigning shall begin since the end of the candidates’ registration, i.e. after 18:00 pm on July 23, 2020, and shall finish at midnight by the local time on the day before election, i.e. at 00:00 on August 11, 2020.

The results of vote count at election of the Senate deputies shall be established at the meeting of the relevant election commission to be conducted in the polling station.

The Protocol on the vote count at election of the deputy to the Senate shall be announced at the joint sessions of electors and shall be delivered to the CEC within two –days from the date of election.

The results of election of the Senate deputies as a whole across the Republic shall be established by the CEC no later than seven days since the date of election.

The CEC registers elected deputies of the Senate until the end of term of deputies of the Senate elected in 2014, until October 14, 2020.

During the meeting, Chairman of the Central Election Commission Berik Imashev noted that "along with ensuring the legality and transparency of the electoral process, holding election in the safest possible conditions for the health of all participants is a highest priority for election commissions."

After the meeting, a briefing was held, where members of the Central Election Commission answered questions of the media. Also during the briefing, it was announced that the press center of the CEC under quarantine conditions and the need to comply with security measures will work remotely, all communications will be carried out through technical means of communication.