Members of the Central Election Commission visited Shymkent, Zhetysu 

and the Turkestan region on a working trip

As part of organising and holding early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, members of the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan continue a series of field workshop-meetings in the regions of the country. 

On November 4 this year, CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman visited Shymkent, on November 5-7 – Turkestan region, member of the Central Election Commission Sabila Mustafina visited Zhetysu region on November 7-8. 

In the regions, members of the Central Election Commission held workshop-meetings for members of territorial and precinct election commissions, representatives of local executive bodies, campaign headquarters of candidates, authorised state bodies, law enforcement agencies and the media. 

Within the workshop, members of territorial election commissions and representatives of local executive bodies briefed the members of the Central Election Commission on the course of preparatory work for the election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

Thus, Head of Shymkent Akim’s office Gabit Maulenkulov, informed that there are 312 polling stations in Shymkent, the number of voters is 634,818 people. On October 30 this year voter lists were handed over to election commissions, and on November 4 presented to voters for review. 

A large-scale information work is being carried out to inform the population about the upcoming elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 28 LED screens and 122 election banners were installed throughout the city. 

7514 citizens are voters with disabilities who need special conditions when voting. All polling stations have special ramps for citizens, tactile strips for visually impaired citizens, special areas and other necessary equipment. On the voting day, 28 Invataxis and 53 social taxis for citizens with disabilities will work. 

As part of electoral education, 2,382 members of election commissions were tested and received certificates. Training of members of precinct election commissions will be completed in stages by November 10. 

Representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission of Observers also took part in the workshop and practical training in Shymkent. The prosecution and internal affairs bodies informed the participants of the workshop about the implementation of supervision over the observance of the law by the participants in the electoral process of the electoral legislation, ensuring law and order at polling stations on voting day. 

Chairman of the TEC of the Turkestan region Alibek Umaraliyev said that in total 1,163,860 citizens were included in the voter lists in the region. Voter lists were presented to precinct election commissions on October 30, 2022, and from November 4, voters have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the lists. 

As the polling station clarified, the Call Centre received 2,139 calls, 8,211 requests were received through the Telegram bot. 

According to Head of the akimat office of the Turkestan region Auelkhan Turgymbekov, active information and explanatory work is being carried out in the region to inform citizens about the elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In particular, 4,180 items were published on regional television, 1,985 items on information websites, 817 items in print media, and 53,494 items on social networks. Moreover, 613 outdoor advertising materials have been placed, and video clips about the elections are regularly broadcast on 122 demonstration screens in crowded places. 

In the Turkestan region, 60,329 people with disabilities have an active suffrage. Polling stations of the region are provided with ramps and tactile signs. 

On election day, people with disabilities in the region will be served by 36 invataxis and 42 social taxis. For hearing-impaired citizens, it is planned to attract 101 sign language specialists to polling stations. 

Deputy head of the Zhetysu regional akim’s office Bakhytgul Nusipova said that there are 447 polling stations in the region, the number of voters is 445,762 people. On October 30 this year voter lists were handed over to election commissions, and on November 4 presented to voters for review.  

There are 21 Call-centres in districts and cities of the region, which received about 300 calls from citizens. A telegram bot and the online service “Check Yourself in the Voter Lists” were launched, which were used by 12,908 citizens. 

Large-scale information and explanatory work is being carried out to inform citizens about the upcoming elections. 905 materials about the elections were aired on regional television. 306 materials were published on the pages of print media, more than 20.4 thousand posts were posted on Internet resources and social networks. 

In total, there are 1915 voters with disabilities in the Zhetysu region who need special conditions for voting. Out of 447 polling stations, all voting premises are located on the first floors of buildings, 397 polling stations have ramps, there’s no need in them in 50 polling stations. 

On voting day, it is planned to organise the work of 24 Invataxi service vehicles to deliver disabled people to polling stations in 70 settlements. 

In the second part of the program of workshop-meetings, CEC members conducted trainings in the form of a business game based on case technology for territorial and precinct election commissions. 

Thus, the practical skills of members of election commissions were tested on the algorithm of actions on voting day, including preparing a polling station for voting day, issuing ballots, accompanying ballot boxes for voting outside the premises, the algorithm for counting votes, drawing up protocols on the results of voting, etc. CEC members asked clarifying questions about the algorithm of actions of members of election commissions and reminded them that the main task in organising the voting procedure is to ensure its transparency. 

Based on the results of the workshop-meetings held by the members of the Central Election Commission, proposals were elaborated to improve the efficiency of the activities of election commissions.