On May 6, the first meeting of the Central Referendum Commission on the organization and holding of the republican referendum was held

May 6 this year, the first meeting of the Central Referendum Commission was held online, at which the issues of organizing and holding the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022 were considered.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the ministries of foreign affairs, information and social development, healthcare, the media, as well as, the territorial referendum commissions in the videoconferencing mode.

During the meeting, five items on the agenda were considered:

1. Organizational aspects of the preparation and holding of the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022;

2. On certain issues of the activities of observers of foreign states, international organizations, representatives of foreign media during the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022;

3. On issues of media accreditation for informing and covering the conduct of the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022;

4. On campaigning before of the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022;

5. On the organization of training for participants in the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022.

Opening the meeting, Nurlan Abdirov noted that the referendum is the most important institution of direct democracy and is a direct law-making of the people. This is one of the ways of public participation in making decisions that are important for the state and for each individual citizen.

Amendments to the Basic Law are, in fact, crucial for our country. The changes will affect a third of the articles of the Constitution. To put it bluntly, our Constitution will take on a whole new dimension.

Thus, the nationwide vote on the issue “Do you accept the amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, set out in the draft Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” published in the media on May 6, 2022?” initiated by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in accordance with his powers, ensures the direct participation of citizens in the management of state affairs and the openness of the processes of making the most important decisions for the country.

“As the Head of State noted, the referendum will allow every citizen take a direct part in deciding the fate of the country and will strengthen our course towards comprehensive democratization and building a New Kazakhstan,” he stressed.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Referendum Commission Konstantin Petrov delivered a report on the first item on the agenda.

He informed that the procedure for preparing and holding the republican referendum is determined by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 2, 1995 “On the Republican Referendum.”

In accordance with Article 20 of the Constitutional Law, the preparation and holding of a referendum shall be carried out by: the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which performs the functions of the Central Referendum Commission; territorial election commissions performing the functions of territorial referendum commissions; precinct election commissions performing the functions of precinct referendum commissions.

Based on the norms of the Constitutional Law, a resolution of the Central Referendum Commission “On certain issues of the activities of the commissions of the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022” was adopted.

The resolution determines that when preparing and holding the republican referendum, referendum commissions shall use the press, Internet resources of the relevant election commissions.

Konstantin Petrov also reported in detail on the powers of referendum commissions at all levels during the republican referendum.

As part of the report, he additionally submitted to the CRC for consideration a draft calendar plan of the main events for the preparation and holding of the republican referendum and dwelled on each stage of the preparation of the referendum. According to the calendar plan:

The composition of territorial and precinct referendum commissions, information on the location and working hours of the commissions shall be published in the media – no later than May 15, 2022 (no later than ten days after the referendum is called).

Information about the boundaries of the referendum precincts shall be published in the media – no later than May 15, 2022 (no later than ten days after the referendum is called).

Campaigning begins after the calling of the referendum and ends at midnight on the day preceding the voting day, i.e. 00-00 on June 4, 2022 (campaigning is prohibited on the day preceding the referendum and on the day of the referendum).

Lists of citizens who have the right to participate in the republican referendum for each polling station are signed by the akim, by whose decision the polling station was formed, and submitted according to the act – no later than May 15, 2022 (twenty days before the start of voting).

The precinct referendum commission notifies citizens of the time and place of voting – no later than May 25, 2022 (at least ten days before voting day).

The time, place, organization and procedure for voting in a referendum shall be determined in accordance with the rules established by the Constitutional Act of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

Voting by precinct referendum commissions on voting day from 07:00 to 20:00 local time, unless another voting time is established.

Also, in accordance with the rules established by the Constitutional Act of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan,” in the part that does not contradict the Constitutional Law “On the Republican Referendum,” the issues related to the counting of votes at the polling station, determination of voting results in the administrative-territorial unit shall be resolved.

Voting results shall be summed up at a meeting of the Central Referendum Commission, drawn up in a protocol, signed by the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, secretary and members of the Central Referendum Commission and approved by a resolution.

Based on the foregoing, a resolution of the Central Referendum Commission “On approval of the Calendar plan of the main activities for the preparation and holding of the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022” was adopted.

Secretary of the Central Referendum Commission Mukhtar Yerman made a report on the second issue of the meeting.

He informed that in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 6 of the Constitutional Law “On the Republican Referendum,” observers from foreign states and international organizations may be present during the referendum, whose powers shall be certified in the order established by the Central Referendum Commission.

Based on the norms of the Constitutional Law, a resolution “On certain issues of the activities of observers of foreign states, international organizations, representatives of foreign media during the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022” was adopted.

According to the resolution, observers of foreign states and international organizations may participate in voting observation at the invitation of the Chairman of the Central Referendum Commission and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Observers of foreign states and international organizations shall be accredited by the Central Referendum Commission upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Executive Unit for International Observation was opened under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Accredited observers of foreign states and international organizations shall be issued an accreditation certificate of the form established by the Central Referendum Commission, which is the basis for their activities during the referendum period.

A representative of a foreign mass media may observe the referendum with an accreditation certificate issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, the resolution of the CRC provides for the possibility of accompanying foreign observers by an interpreter.

The text of the questionnaire of an observer of a foreign state, an international organization was also approved by the resolution.

The accreditation process ends at 18:00 Nur-Sultan time, five days before voting day, i.e. May 30, 2022.

On the third item on the agenda, Nurlan Abdirov noted that, in accordance with the Constitutional Law, the organization and conduct of the referendum shall be carried out openly and publicly.

Anastassiya Shchegortsova, a member of the Central Referendum Commission made a report on this issue on the agenda.

She noted that in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 6 of the Constitutional Law “On the Republican Referendum,” the media shall cover the preparation and conduct of the referendum, their representatives, accredited with referendum commissions, shall be guaranteed access to events related to the referendum.

In this regard, a draft resolution “On accreditation of media representatives at the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022” was submitted for consideration by the members of the Central Referendum Commission.

The resolution provides for an algorithm for accreditation of media representatives on the basis of the “Rules for the Accreditation of Journalists,” approved by order of the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated June 21, 2013.

According to these rules, the mass media shall submit an application for temporary accreditation of a journalist to referendum events to the relevant referendum commissions, which specifies:

1) surname, name, patronymic of the journalist, his/her contact details;

2) the name and timing of the event;

3) information about the media: name of the media, legal address for individuals and location for legal entities, contact details of the media.

A copy of the identity document of the accredited journalist shall be attached to the application.

Also in the application, the owner or editor-in-chief of the corresponding media outlet shall confirm that the journalist indicated in the application form is a media worker and shall sign it.

Referendum commissions shall deny accreditation of a journalist on the following grounds:

1) failure to provide relevant documents;

2) the presence of a court decision that has entered into legal force on the suspension or termination of the distribution of mass media products, or the release of mass media;

3) the absence in the register of registered periodicals, news agencies, Internet resources, which is maintained by the authorized body.

This algorithm is fully consistent with the established practice of the media.

Based on the results of consideration of the draft, this resolution was unanimously adopted by the CRC members.

The head of the Central Referendum Commission drew attention of the meeting participants to the fact that, traditionally, briefings will be held after each meeting, during which members of the Commission will answer media questions related to the agenda and decisions taken.

On the fourth issue of the meeting regarding campaigning before the republican referendum, Chairman of the Central Referendum Commission Nurlan Abdirov noted that within the Constitutional Law “On the Republican Referendum,” citizens, public associations of the Republic shall be guaranteed the right to express their opinion on the issue submitted to the referendum at meetings, rallies, gatherings of citizens in the media.

Also, as part of the issue of campaigning, Vice Minister of Information and Social Development Nurgul Mauberlinova made a report “On campaigning in the media before the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022, as well as monitoring the information space.”

Deputy Prosecutor General Bulat Dembayev made a report “On supervision of the precise and uniform application of the referendum legislation during campaigning before the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022.”

Vice Minister of Healthcare Aizhan Yesmagambetova made a report “On measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19 during campaigning before the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022”.

Nurlan Abdirov called on citizens and public associations of the Republic to hold campaign events strictly within the established framework of the law.

Sabila Mustafina, a member of the Central Referendum Commission, made a report on the fifth item on the agenda of the meeting.

In her report, she submitted for consideration by the members of the Central Referendum Commission a draft resolution “On the organization of training for participants in the republican referendum scheduled for June 5, 2022”.

Based on the results of the consideration of the draft, the resolution on the organization of training for participants in the republican referendum was unanimously adopted by the members of the CRC.

As part of the resolution, the algorithm for the implementation of cascade learning provides for the following plan:

by May 13 – to complete training of all dismissed members of territorial referendum commissions;

by May 20 – to complete training of non-dismissed members of territorial referendum commissions, as well as the leadership of precinct commissions – chairmen, their deputies and secretaries;

before June 4 – to train all members of the precinct referendum commissions, completing the training with a widespread training on organizing and holding Voting Day.

Regional branches of the Academy of Public Administration will be involved in the training.

Jointly with the Ministry of Information and Social Development, training workshops will be also held for representatives of the media and public associations.

A separate area will be online training for members of referendum commissions formed at the representative offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan in foreign countries. The co-organizer is the territorial commission of Nur-Sultan, which includes foreign precinct commissions.

The meeting was followed by a briefing for the media, at which members of the Central Referendum Commission and representatives of interested state bodies answered questions from the media.

The second session of the Central Referendum Commission will take place on May 6 at 15:00.