Meeting of the Central Election Commission on the results of the election campaign and readiness of polling stations to the voting day

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

The meeting discussed two issues:

1. On the results of the election campaigning by political parties that have nominated party lists at the regular elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021;

2. On the readiness of polling stations for the voting day at the elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021.

Anastassiya Schegortsova, member of the Central Election Commission, made a report on the first issue.

She reported that, according to information of the media and political parties, pre-election activities of candidates for deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament were carried out on 10 TV channels, 8 radio stations, 22 internet resources and 19 print media.

Thus, on 10 republican TV channels 2,582 broadcasts of parties' propaganda videos were recorded. On the air of 8 radio stations, 1,217 outlets of agitation audio clips were recorded. On the pages of 22 Internet resources 199 materials were posted in the form of articles and Internet banners. In 19 republican and regional print media, 152 campaign materials were published in the format of articles and modules of parties.

A. Schegortsova recalled that as part of the pre-election campaign, on December 30, 2020, the Central Election Commission organized live debates on the Khabar TV channel with the participation of political parties that nominated party lists of candidates for the Mazhilis deputies. In accordance with the Regulations, participants were provided with equal opportunities and conditions for speaking. In addition, live television debates were held on December 22, 2020 on the Kazakhstan TV channel, as well as on December 26, 2020 on the KTK TV channel. Organization of these television debates was initiated by the TV channels, and also paid for from the electoral funds of political parties.

Anastassiya Schegortsova also informed about the campaign activities of candidates for deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament, elected by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.

Thus, candidates from the Assembly through the "Zoom" Internet platform held online meetings with voters - members of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan. In addition, in the regions, on the basis of friendship houses, meetings of candidates from the Assembly with voting members of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan were held.

11 campaign publications of candidates for deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament, elected by the Assembly, have been posted in the republican and regional print media. Campaign videos were posted on 3 TV channels.

In general, equal access of political parties to the media was ensured, and voters had the opportunity to receive complete, reliable and objective information about all parties running in the elections.

Separately, A. Schegortsova dwelled on the issues of organizing public opinion polls. Thus, according to the report, out of 11 legal entities that sent notifications to the Central Election Commission to conduct a public opinion poll, 10 documents meet the requirements of electoral legislation: 1) "Kogamdik pikir" Institution Public Association; 2) "Research Association" Institute of Democracy Public Association; 3) "NurOtan" Party Public Association; 4) "Institute of Eurasian Integration" LLP; 5) "Institute of Analysis and Forecasting of East Kazakhstan region" LLP; 6) "Astana-zertteu" Public Foundation; 7) "Law" Public Foundation; 8) "Sanj" Research Center Public Foundation; 9) "Sanj" Research Center Institution; 10) "Institute for Complex Social Research - Astana Private Foundation/"IKSI "SOTSIS-A" Public Foundation.

Representatives of the Ministry of Information and Social Development and the General Prosecutor's Office also spoke on the first issue of the meeting.

Vice Minister of Information and Public Development Kemelbek Oishybayev made a report “On the results of media monitoring during the pre-election campaign of political parties that nominated party lists for the elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan”

He informed that from among the total number of materials on the election campaign, about 6,656 materials were devoted to informing the voter about the current activities of political parties during the election campaign. According to the results of monitoring, the principle of providing equal access to the media for political parties was observed.

Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bulat Dembayev made a report "On the measures taken by the prosecution authorities to ensure legality of the election campaign".

He reported that, in general, the election campaign took place within the legal framework, without gross violations of the law.

During the campaign period, 1 violation of the conditions for conducting a public opinion poll on elections in the media was recorded, 2 - damages to campaign materials, 10 - illegal campaigning. On all these facts, the prosecutor's office initiated administrative proceedings and brought 13 citizens to justice.

Summing up the first question, Chairman of the Central Election Commission Berik Imashev recalled that January 9, 2021 is a “day of silence.” Any actions related to election campaigning are prohibited and the law provides for legal liability.

As part of the second issue of the meeting, representatives of territorial election commissions reported on the readiness of polling stations to the voting day.

In turn, Berik Imashev drew attention of election commissions to the fact that voting day should be held in strict accordance with the norms of the Constitutional Act "On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan" and wished everyone success and fruitful work.

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