Workshop-meetings in the Almaty region, Almaty and Zhetysu region

On February 23-24, members of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov and Sabila Mustafina took part in field workshops in Almaty, Almaty region and Zhetysu region 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 explained to the participants all the novelties in the electoral legislation and issues of financing the election campaign, and also summarised the results of the registration of candidates for Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 29 single-seat constituencies.

Bakhytgul Nussipova, Deputy Head of Administration of the Zhetysu Region Akim, reported that 458 polling stations have been created in the Zhetysu Region. All polling stations in the region began their work.

Measures have been taken to equip them, including taking into account the conditions necessary for people with disabilities.

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

In order to carry out explanatory work in all districts and cities of the region, there are 17 Call-centres, a telegram bot and Check yourself in the voter lists online service. The Unified Contact Centre operates around the clock, which can receive up to 10 calls at the same time.

To ensure unified coordination of public observation, a list of coordinators of 11 people and a pool of independent observers in the amount of 886 people from the branch of the Dauys Coalition of Public Observers Republican Public Association in the Zhetysu region and from NGO partners were formed.

Similar work is being done in the Almaty region. Tulegen Sarsembayev, head of the akim’s administration, said that residents of the region can get information about their polling station and check themselves in the voter lists on the Voter Search online service, in a telegram bot, as well as through Call-centres in 10 districts and the city of Qonayev.

To date, 197 premises have been identified for holding meetings of candidates with voters and 709 places for visual campaigning.

Special conditions at polling stations are provided for 1353 citizens with disabilities. To date, out of 601 precincts, 595 have been provided with ramps, 390 with tactile signs at the entrance.

In addition, during the voting period for persons with disabilities, corners and booths will be organised at all polling stations, sign language specialists will be involved for voters with hearing impairments, and 18 vehicles of the Invataxi service will be involved in the regional centre and in all districts on voting day.

In the regions and in Almaty visited by the CEC members, trainings were also held in the form of a business game based on real cases for the territorial election commissions.

During the organised game, members of election commissions demonstrated the voting process at the polling stations covering the entire voting process. They showed how precinct election commissions will work on voting day, starting with the registration of voters and issuing ballots, until the completion of all work.

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