Nurlan Abdirov visited Mangystau region

On February 24-25, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Abdirov, as part of 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, visited the Mangistau region with an inspection trip. The trip to the region was also attended by CEC member Shavkhat Utemissov and designated staff members of the Central Election Commission.

As part of the event, a meeting was held with the participation of representatives of local executive bodies, the regional prosecutor’s office, members of territorial election commissions, representatives of the campaign headquarters of candidates, members of the long-term OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Simone Brocchi and Adam Drnovski, as well as media representatives.

At a meeting chaired by Nurlan Abdirov, authorised state bodies and the regional territorial election commission reported on the work carried out in the region on voter lists, organisational, logistical support for the elections, the creation of the necessary conditions for the physical accessibility of polling stations for citizens with disabilities, the timely delivery of ballots on precincts and other important issues.

Thus, deputy akim of the region Ulugbek Tnaliyev informed that there are 247 polling stations in the region, 4 of which are newly formed, 52 with changed borders.

All constituencies and polling stations are equipped, 81.2% of members of election commissions have experience in holding elections.

Thereat, on the basis of the regional branch of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, it is planned to train 650 employees of election commissions.

To increase the activity of voters in the cities and districts of the region, 100 information billboards, 3 LED screens and 6 lightboxes are used. To inform the population, motivational and informative video and audio clips were also broadcast in two languages. Active information work is being carried out on social networks, Call centres are operating everywhere, an online service and a telegram bot have been launched, where residents can check themselves on the voter list.

Yelubay Abilov, chairman of the regional election commission, also reported on the work done at the meeting, who said that there are 8 territorial, 121 district and 247 precinct election commissions in the region. A total of 2291 members of the commissions are involved. The number of voters in the region is 418,330 people.

The list of electoral districts by region, their boundaries and locations, the boundaries of polling stations and information on the composition of election commissions are published in regional newspapers, posted on the websites of the relevant election commissions.

Together with the akimats of districts and cities, 122 places were identified for placement of campaign printed materials, all of them are equipped with stands and billboards. 57 premises have also been prepared for holding meetings of candidates with voters.

Yelubay Abilov also informed that on February 26, the voter lists for each polling station would be handed over to precinct election commissions.

During the meeting, Nurlan Abdirov instructed the akimat and the territorial election commission of the region to provide a reserve number of places for placing campaign materials and stressed the importance of providing candidates with equal opportunities for campaign work.

Deputy Head of the Department for the Coordination of Employment and Social Programmes Zhaysangul Dospolova also made a presentation. In particular, she noted that 20,579 citizens with disabilities are registered in the region and are included in the voter list. The number of citizens with special needs in 4 areas is 7,174 people (1,390 people with visual impairment, 186 people with hearing impairment, 5,542 people with musculoskeletal disorders, as well as 526 people moving in wheelchairs).

According to her, 247 polling stations are located in 190 buildings (127 objects are fully accessible for persons with disabilities, 49 are partially accessible).

On election day, 15 Invataxi and 13 sign language specialists will work.

After listening to the speaker, Nurlan Abdirov drew attention to the importance of ensuring the possibility and conditions for voting for all persons with disabilities. If necessary, informing them should be approached individually. He also stressed that if individual voters cannot come to the polling station due to their state of health, the precinct election commission, upon written application, shall organise voting at the location of these voters. Persons with disabilities will need to be informed of this right.

Also, within the workshop-meeting, regional prosecutor Rufat Kuttukov spoke, who informed about the implementation of supervision over compliance with the law by all participants of the electoral process.

Bolatbek Akshauov, First Deputy Head of the Police Department, reported that on the day of the elections, police officers will be transferred to a reinforced version of service. 702 police officers will be involved in ensuring public safety.

Addressing the representative of the Police Department, the head of the Central Election Commission noted the importance of ensuring law and order and respect for the rule of law during the electoral campaign. Police officers should not be present at polling stations without reason on voting day, stressed the CEC Chairman.

As part of the workshop, the head of the Central Election Commission also held a meeting with representatives of the long-term OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Simone Brocchi (Italy) and Adam Drnovski (Czech Republic), with whom he discussed the specifics of the current campaign related to the constitutional reform and significant changes in the electoral law. He stressed the importance of international monitoring of the preparation and conduct of parliamentary elections.

At the end of the workshop-meeting, the CEC Chairman noted that the election commissions should keep under control all main activities for the preparation and holding of early elections of members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats and be ready to conduct this important and responsible campaign for the country in strict accordance with the law.

Within the framework of the workshop-meeting for the territorial election commissions, three training sessions were held in the form of a business game, which was participated by more than 200 people.

During the trainings, members of election commissions demonstrated the voting process at the polling stations, covering all its components. They showed how precinct election commissions will work on election day, starting with the opening of polling stations, registering voters, issuing ballots, and ending with the completion of all work.

After the business game, Nurlan Abdirov visited 6 district election commissions in Aktau and the Tupkaragan district of the region. In district election commissions, he was asking about problematic issues that arose during the past stages of nomination and registration of candidates within the current campaign.

During meetings with members of the commissions, the CEC Chairman emphasised that the electoral legislation of the country had been significantly updated, so there was a need for high-quality, full-fledged, and continuous training for all members of the commissions. He urged to be prepared for the fact that voters now have the right to revoke the representative mandate in connection with their failure to fulfil their election programmes and promises. In such cases, new elections will be called according to the law.

During the inspection trip, special attention was paid to ensuring the electoral rights of persons with disabilities, the availability of various forms of support for them – corners in the voting room equipped with a computer, audio and video content, headphones, additional lighting, magnifiers, etc.

He also emphasised that the election campaign requires, first of all, high professionalism and responsibility from all members of election commissions, which should ensure openness and transparency of the upcoming elections to the representative bodies of the country.

After the meetings, Nurlan Abdirov gave a number of specific instructions to the chairpersons of territorial and district election commissions.