On July 12, 2022 a meeting of of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held

On July 12, 2022 under the chairmanship of Nurlan Abdirov a meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held on the organization and conduct of the elections of senators of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Abai, Zhetisu and Ulytau regions, appointed by the Decree of the President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev for August 24, 2022.

During the meeting three issues on the agenda were considered:

1) "On approval of the Calendar Plan of basic measures for preparation and conduct of elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Oblasts Abai, Zhetisu and Ulytau, appointed for August 24, 2022";

2) 'On approval of some forms of election documents for elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Oblasts Abai, Zhetisu, and Ulytau, to be held on August 24, 2022';

3) 'On establishment of the amount of expenses of a candidate for deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan covered from the republican budget at elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Oblasts Abai, Zhetisu and Ulytau, to be held on August 24, 2022'.

Opening the meeting, Chairman of the CEC Nurlan Abdirov said that the Presidential Decree of 11 July 2022, the elections of senators of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from the oblasts of Abai, Jetisu and Ulytau appointed for August 24, 2022.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan the Senate is formed by deputies representing in the order established by the Constitutional Law two people from each oblast, city of republican status and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Deputies of the Senate are elected on the basis of indirect electoral right by secret ballot by electors - deputies of maslikhats who in their turn are elected by citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan at elections.

The organization and conduct of elections of deputies of the Senate of Parliament is supervised by the Central Election Commission. The corresponding territorial election commissions ensure the preparation and conduct of elections of deputies of the Senate of Parliament in the regions.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov made a report on the first and second items on the agenda.

As the reporter said, according to article 83 of the Constitutional law "On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan" the extraordinary elections of deputies of the Senate are held in accordance with the rules established by this Constitutional law for the regular elections of deputies of the Senate. At the same time, the terms of electoral activities shall be determined by the Central Election Commission.

Two deputies are elected from each of the three regions: one for the term of the deputies elected on June 28, 2017; the other for the term of the deputies elected on August 12, 2020.

According to the Constitution, a deputy of the Senate of the Parliament may be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan who has reached the age of thirty and has been permanently residing in the country for the last ten years and in the territory of the respective region for at least three years. In addition, the candidate must have a higher education and work experience of at least five years.

Citizens declared incapable by a court have no right to elect and be elected.

A person who has a criminal record which has not been expunged or removed in the manner prescribed by law, as well as a person whose guilt in committing a corruption crime and a corruption offence has been recognized by a court in the manner prescribed by law may not be a candidate for deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

At the meeting the Central Election Commission approved the Calendar Plan of basic measures for the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Abay, Jetisu and Ulytau regions, scheduled for August 24, 2022.

According to the Calendar Plan, the following stages of the election campaign have been defined:

● Nomination of candidates - from July 13 to 6 p.m. on July 30, 2022.

Nomination of candidates to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is carried out by maslikhats, as well as by self-nomination.

A candidate for deputies of the Senate shall be supported by no less than ten percent of votes of the total number of electors, representing all maslikhats of the region, but no more than twenty- five percent of votes of electors from one maslikhat.

Establishment of a candidate for the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Constitutional law on elections is carried out by the election commission of the region within three days after receipt of necessary documents.

● Registration is till 18.00 on August 3, 2022.

Registration of candidates for deputies to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is carried out by regional election commissions, if a regional, city or district Maslikhat (in case of nomination by the Maslikhat) decides to nominate a candidate for deputies; statements of consent (intention) to run as a candidate for deputies; the corresponding election commission report on results of checking signatures of electors in support of the candidate; biographical data of the candidate; a certificate of the state revenue body on his (her) and his/her (her) surrender of his/ her signature.

If a candidate was elected to the Senate of the Parliament or received at least 5 per cent of the votes of the electors who took part in the elections, as well as in the event of the candidate's death, the paid contribution is returned to him/her. In all other cases the contribution paid is non-refundable and is returned to the national budget.

● Campaigning - after 6:00 p.m. on August 3 to 00:00 a.m. on August 23, 2022.

● Silent Day - August 23, 2022.

● Election Day - August 24, 2022.

The results of the vote count for the election of a member of the Senate shall be established at a meeting of the appropriate election committee held at the polling place.

The protocol of the vote count for the election of the deputy of the Senate shall be announced at a joint meeting of the electors and shall be forwarded to the Central Election Commission no more than two days from the date of the election - August 25, 2022.

Elections results of members of the Senate of the Parliament shall be established by the CEC no later than seven days from the date of the election.

On the second question, Konstantin Petrov submitted a draft resolution "On Approval of Some Forms of Election Documents for the Election of Deputies to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Abai, Jetisu and Ulytau regions, scheduled for August 24, 2022" for consideration by the CEC members. As a result of consideration of the draft, the resolution was unanimously adopted by CEC members.

The resolution approved the following forms of election documents:

1) a ballot paper for the election of deputies to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

2) minutes of the election commission on the results of votes counting at the elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

3) report on the results of counting the votes at the elections of deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Sabila Mustafina, a member of the Central Election Commission, made a report on the third item of the meeting. According to the rapporteur, in accordance with the electoral legislation, the state guarantees candidates equal allocation of funds for their programs in the media. The Central Election

Commission determines the order and amount of funds allocated to candidates for their speeches in mass media.

In view of the above, the Central Election Commission adopted a decree 'On establishing the amount of expenditure of the candidate for the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan covered from the state budget in the elections of deputies to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Abay, Zhetisu and Ulytau regions, appointed for 24 August 2022'.

The resolution establishes the amount of expenses of the candidate for: presentations on TV and radio, as well as publication of two articles in periodic publications, in the amount of 350 000 tenge; holding of public pre-election events and issue of election campaign materials in the amount of 70 000 tenge; and transportation expenses in the amount of 80 000 tenge.