About field workshop-meetings in the North Kazakhstan and Akmola 

regions

On February 21-22, members of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov and Sabila Mustafina took part in field workshop-meetings in the North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions on the preparation and holding of early elections of members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 19, 2023.

Representatives of local executive bodies, employees of regional prosecutor’s offices, members of territorial election commissions, representatives of campaign headquarters of candidates, international observers and media representatives took part in the events.

Members of the Central Election Commission spoke in detail about the novelties in the electoral legislation, the results of registration of candidates for Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 29 single-seat constituencies, issues of financing pre-election campaigning, as well as accreditation of national and international observers.

Olzhas Idrissov, head of the akim’s administration of the North Kazakhstan region, reported to the audience on the work done to hold the elections.

Thus, in the region there are 819 election commissions, 15 of which are territorial (105 members), 631 precinct (3,543 members) and 173 district (865 members).

It will be possible to get information about the polling station and presence in the lists on the Search for voters, Telegram bot, Call centres services, which are available in 13 districts and in Petropavlovsk.

He also informed that 193 premises have been identified for holding meetings of candidates with voters and 306 places for visual campaigning.

Special conditions at polling stations are provided for 2,000 citizens with disabilities. To date, out of 631 polling stations, 532 have been provided with ramps, 563 with tactile signs at the entrance, and 504 with tactile signs at the polling station. During the voting period, corners will be organised for people with disabilities at 619 polling stations and booths will be equipped at 565 polling stations.

For 652 voters with hearing impairment, information will be placed at the polling stations to provide assistance with online or offline sign language services. In the regional centre on the voting day, the Invataxi and social taxi services will be involved.

Similar work is being carried out in the Akmola region. Azamat Kapyshev, head of the regional akim’s administration, said that in order to update the voter lists, the Check Yourself service was created on the official website of the regional akim, where each voter can get information about the number and location of the polling station using the IIN, and the AkmolaSailauBot telegram bot also operates. Call-centres have been created in each region.

In the area of special attention are the suburbs of the capital and the city of Kosshy, Zhibek Zholy village (Arshaly district), where a large number of unregistered citizens live.

All residents of the near metropolitan area, registered in Astana, will vote at the place of permanent registration.

Azamat Kapyshev also noted that today 3.8 thousand citizens with special needs and who have the right to vote live in the region. Out of the 700 polling stations, 663 are fully equipped with the necessary accessibility conditions. In other areas, portable ramps will be organised as necessary.

Corners for persons with disabilities will be organised at 594 polling stations, booths for secret voting will be provided at 527 polling stations, taking into account the access of voters with impaired functions of the musculoskeletal system, including those using wheelchairs. In 8 districts and cities, sign language specialists for hearing-impaired voters will be involved at polling stations. On the voting day, Invataxi Services will be activated.

Within the workshop-meetings, representatives of the regional prosecutor’s offices also spoke, who informed about the implementation of supervision over compliance with the law by the participants in the electoral process.

At the end of the workshop-meeting, members of the Central Election Commission answered all questions of interest to the territorial election commissions.