On January 8, 2021, meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held 

As part of the election campaign for the elections of deputies to the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021, meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held.

The following issues were considered at the meeting:

1.On the course of consideration of applications of individuals and legal entities received by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan during the campaign for the election of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021;

2. On the work carried out by local executive bodies on the material and technical equipment of polling stations, ensuring sanitary security measures, creating conditions for ensuring the electoral rights of persons with disabilities during the campaign for election of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021.

Yerlan Dauylbayev, member of the Central Election Commission, made a report on the first issue.

He said that the issue of the content and the course of consideration of applications from individuals and legal entities was considered in the current election campaign at four meetings of the Central Election Commission - following the results of the stage of nomination of candidates, registration of party lists, at the stage of election campaign and at the end of the campaign stage.

Since the announcement of the elections on October 21 to date, the Central Election Commission has received 104 appeals, including: 46 - from individuals, 36 - from legal entities, and 22 - from the media.

By nature of the issues raised, the appeals were distributed as follows: 63.4% (66) - on clarification of the electoral legislation; 13.5% (14) - on providing information on the organization of the electoral process; 4.8% (5) - proposals; 4.8% - (5) statements; 13.5% - (14) - other issues.

Out of 104 appeals received during the specified period: the CEC administration provided exhaustive answers to the applicants within the established time frame to 81 appeals; 12 were redirected to state bodies in accordance with the procedure established by law as not falling within the competence of the Central Election Commission; in accordance with the legislation, 6 appeals were left without consideration: among them were the applications of 4 citizens because they did not set out the essence of the issue, as well as two repeated appeals in which new arguments were not set forth, 5 requests are pending. There are no unfulfilled requests.

Analysis of appeals received by the Central Election Commission shows that two thirds, or 68%, relate to the explanation of various aspects of the electoral legislation.

In his report, Y. Dauylbayev emphasized that the Central Election Commission, realizing the importance of work on legal education of voters and other participants of the electoral process, on November 26, 2020 adopted a Resolution on the course of consideration of appeals and the procedure for clarifying electoral legislation.

Within the framework of the powers of the Central Election Commission, a system of measures was built together with other state bodies to organize explanatory work.

The CEC elaborated a complex of information and explanatory materials (video, audio clips, posters, methodological and other materials), which were widely placed in all types of media.

Also, in accordance with the resolution of the CEC, together with local executive bodies, broad information was organized among citizens about the procedure for including temporarily registered citizens in the voter lists, including through online services and call centers.

Since the beginning of the electoral campaign, 187 Call-centers have been operating in all regions of the republic. Call centers and online services of local executive bodies received more than 381.5 thousand applications regarding inclusion or clarification of the status of a citizen in the voter lists, providing contact information on the location of the territorial and precinct election commissions, on other issues of the electoral process and electoral activities.

Since December 10, 2020, the Ministry of Justice has been providing legal advice through the Call Center with the common number 119 for the republic. As of December 31, 2020, the Call Center under the Ministry of Justice received 1,129 applications, including 821 on issues of clarifying electoral legislation, 308 - requests for contact (reference) information on territorial election commissions and on Call-centers of local executive bodies.

In general, out of all applications received by the CEC, a third of applications were received from 13 legal entities. Half of them are from 3 public organizations. Each of them received 5 requests with questions, direct answers to which are contained in the relevant law.

Every sixth of the requests received by the CEC concerns clarification of the main provisions of the CEC resolution of December 4 on implementation of the powers of certain categories of participants of the electoral process.

This issue was considered at 2 sessions of the CEC, a press conference, an hour and a half training workshop were held, in which about five hundred NGOs participated.

Turning to the second issue of the meeting, Chairman of the Central Election Commission Berik Imashev noted that according to the Decree of the Head of State dated October 21, 2020, local executive bodies shall take necessary measures to provide material and technical support for the regular elections. The akimats shall also take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19 when organizing and holding a vote.

In this regard, representatives of local executive bodies were heard. They reported on the work carried out on the material and technical equipment of polling stations, ensuring sanitary security measures, creating conditions for ensuring the electoral rights of persons with disabilities.

Concluding the meeting, Berik Imashev emphasized that all issues on organization of the voting day, related to the competence of local executive bodies, shall be resolved without fail.

After the meeting, briefing for the media took place, at which members of the CEC answered questions from the media.