The Central Election Commission considered the issue of readiness of 

polling stations for the voting day

On November 18 this year, a meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held under the chairmanship of Nurlan Abdirov, at which the issue of readiness of polling stations for voting day was considered. 

The meeting was participated by chairmen and members of the territorial election commissions of the regions, cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent and representatives of local executive bodies via videoconferencing, while representatives of the media, as well as international observers of the OSCE/ODIHR and CIS Missions participated in person. 

“Our main task is to ensure 100% readiness of the electoral bodies, the entire electoral infrastructure for holding early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for November 20, 2022,” CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov stressed opening the meeting. 

As part of the agenda, the chairmen and members of the territorial election commissions of the regions, cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent reported on the readiness of polling stations to the voting day, including the material and technical equipment of polling stations, ensuring their physical accessibility for citizens with disabilities, the delivery of ballots to polling stations, as well as the start and end time of voting. 

According to the operational information provided, in accordance with the law, decisions were made to establish voting time at 6:00 in some polling stations. There are 86 such polling stations in the Republic. At polling stations established in military units, rest homes, sanatoriums, stationary medical and preventive institutions, pre-trial detention centres and temporary detention centres, as well as at representative offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan in foreign states, the precinct election commission may declare voting completed at any time when all voters included in the list voted. 

In total, 10,101 polling stations will operate in the Republic on voting day. In order to monitor the readiness of the electoral bodies and infrastructure for the voting day, from October 28 to November 16, CEC members visited all regions and cities of republican significance, as well as districts and villages of the country, 53 cities and districts in total. During the trips, CEC members got acquainted with the material and technical equipment of 155 polling stations, the creation of conditions for persons with disabilities, work with voter lists, as well as the organisation of electoral education. Methodological and advisory assistance from members of the CEC was provided. 

Following the meeting, Nurlan Abdirov instructed local executive bodies to take the necessary measures to organise the work of election commissions on voting day: uninterrupted supply of electricity, heat, and provision of vehicles. He also reminded the members of the election commissions that the voting day should be held in strict accordance with the norms of the Constitutional Act on Elections, wished them success and fruitful work on the voting day. 

After the meeting, a briefing for the media was held.