The Central Referendum Commission (CRC) held a meeting dedicated to the 

organization and conduct of the republican referendum

On 3 September 2024, within the framework of a campaign for the republican referendum scheduled for 6 October 2024, the Central Referendum Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CRC) conducted the meeting to discuss the following issues:

1. new changes in the republican referendum legislation;

2. organizational aspects of preparing and conducting the republican referendum;

3. the campaigning prior to the republican referendum; 

4. the issues related to the activities of observers of foreign states, international organizations, representatives of foreign mass media during the republican referendum. 

The Vice-ministers of Justice, Culture and Information, Foreign Affairs, as well as of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, mass media representatives have attended the meeting. Heads of staff of akimats of regions, cities of Astana, Almaty and Shymkent as well as the members of territorial referendum commissions have participated in the meeting via videoconference.

The meeting was broadcast online on the official website and Youtube channel, with the provision of sign language interpretation.

At the opening, the CRC Chair Nurlan Abdirov underlined that by the decision of the Head of State, the issue of great importance for the country regarding the construction of nuclear power plant will be decided by the republican referendum. The main question put before the referendum is the following: “Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?”.

The President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address to the People of Kazakhstan “Fair Kazakhstan: law and order, economic growth, public optimism” highlighted that the upcoming referendum would bring another milestone for a broad national dialogue and a vivid example of the implementation of the concept of “Hearing State”. Thus, it is about creating a new socio-political culture, setting new standards of a key public decisions making process.

The CRC Head also explained that since the call of the republican referendum, the relevant election commissions perform the functions of referendum commissions and organize the preparation and conduct of the referendum.

Shavkhat Utemisov, the Central Referendum Commission Member, delivered a speech on the first agenda item. He informed that on 5 July of this year, with a view to improving the republican referendum legislation, the amendments to the relevant Constitutional Law have been adopted.

Shavkhat Utemisov explained to the meeting participants about new changes in the legislation on referendum. Among the key changes – determination of the rights and obligations of national and international observers, as well as representatives of foreign media (previously, the referendum law did not cover the issue; therefore, a reference norm was added to the Constitutional Law on Elections).

The updated legislation also determines the procedure of mass media coverage of the preparation and conducting the referendum (relating to this issue, in order to ensure uniform application the relevant amendments had been introduced to the Constitutional Law on Elections). 

It was explained, the key aspects of conducting public opinion polls during the referendum period and, according to the amendments, it must be conducted in accordance with the requirements established by the electoral legislation.  

The CRC Member also informed about novelties in the work of the referendum commission’s members. Thus, labor remuneration of members of referendum commissions will be carried out in line with the Law on elections. At the same time, the updated legislation on referendum also clearly regulates the issue of appealing decisions and actions (inaction) by the referendum commission.

On this issue, Nurlan Abdirov underlined that according to experts’ opinion, the amendments on expanding the group of observers, clarification of the procedure for their accreditation, as well as defining the rules for the presence of media at polling stations, conducting surveys would contribute to increasing the transparency of the process and awareness of citizens, improve the organization of the process, as well as demonstrate the adoption of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

Konstantin Petrov, the CRC Deputy Chair, reported on the agenda’s second item.

He informed that overall period of campaign from the call of the referendum until the voting day would consist of 35 days.  Immediately after the call, the local executive bodies shall begin the work on compiling the lists of voters. 20 days before the voting, i.e. 15 September, the lists shall be delivered to the referendum polling stations and electronic version to the CRC.

The lists of citizens having the right to participate in the republican referendum in the referendum precincts formed in places of temporary stay of citizens are presented to citizens for acquaintance five days before the voting day. 

The Constitutional Law on Elections provides for the right of citizens who have changed their place of residence to be able to vote by absentee ballot certificate.

Ballots are delivered to the referendum polling stations no earlier than three and no later than one day before the voting day. Voting will take place on October 6 from 7.00 am until 8.00 pm. Two types of referendum polling stations will be used in the organization of the referendum: those established at the place of residence of citizens and in places of temporary stay of citizens. The total number of referendum polling stations is 10,327 (including 9,709 at the place of citizens' registration and 618 in places of temporary stay), including 78 polling stations abroad (in 63 countries). The number of members of referendum commissions is 70,049.

As of 1 July 2024, the Register of Voters includes 12,176,968 citizens permanently registered at their place of residence. 

To allow citizens to check their inclusion in the lists and find out the location of the polling station, the local executive bodies will provide the relevant online services and Internet resources.

At the CRC meeting, the Calendar Plan of the Main Activities for the Preparation and Conducting the Republican Referendum scheduled for 6 October 2024 was approved, the forms of documents of the republican referendum were adopted, as well as the issues on the organization of work with the lists of citizens entitled to participate in the republican referendum and the provision of conditions for persons with disabilities during the conduct of the republican referendum were considered. 

The CRC Chair drew the attention of the members of the referendum commissions from the regions to the fact that all the activities specified in the Calendar Plan shall be carried out in accordance with the established deadlines.

He also directed the local executive bodies’ attention and instructed to intensify the work on the formation of lists of citizens entitled to participate in the republican referendum, to ensure the functioning of information services (call-centers, digital services, Internet resources) to verify inclusion in the lists of citizens entitled to participate in the republican referendum. The CRC Head also instructed akimats to take necessary measures to ensure conditions for the realization of the electoral rights of persons with disabilities at referendum polling stations.

On third item, the CRC Member Anastasia Shchegortsova, in her report, informed about the main aspects of campaigning during the period of the republican referendum.

Hence, according to the paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Constitutional Law on the Republican Referendum, citizens and public associations of Kazakhstan are guaranteed with the right to express their opinion “yes” or “no” on the issue submitted to the referendum, which is considered as campaigning. 

Campaigning can be conducted through the publication of posters, leaflets, banners and other electronic and printed materials. The Law also provides for meetings, rallies, gatherings of citizens and campaigning through mass media.

Meanwhile, the legislation requires that certain conditions shall be met for organizing a campaign. 

All campaign materials must contain information about the organization that issued them, the place of their printing and circulation, and the persons responsible for their issue. Distribution of anonymous campaign materials is prohibited. 

It is prohibited to campaign for violent changes to the constitutional system, violation of the integrity of the Republic of Kazakhstan, undermining the security of the state, war, social, racial, national, religious, class and tribal superiority, as well as the cult of cruelty and violence. Campaign materials may only be placed in specially designated areas and on the other objects with the consent of the owner. Campaigning outside closed premises (meetings, rallies) is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Law on Peaceful Assemblies.

Campaigning begins after the referendum is called. However, campaigning is prohibited on the day preceding the referendum (the day of silence) and on the day of the referendum. Printed campaign materials and posters previously displayed outside the voting premises may remain in their original places.

On the fourth item, the CRC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman informed that the Institute of International Observation of the Republican Referendum was created in Kazakhstan.

He emphasized that the Republic of Kazakhstan as a member of many international organizations constantly fulfills with its international obligations, established the Institute of International Observation of the Republican Referendum.

In accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 6 of the Constitutional Law on the Republican Referendum, accredited observers from foreign states and international organizations and representatives of foreign mass media are eligible to be present in the conduct of referendum. 

In Kazakhstan, observers from foreign states and international organizations can participate in the observation of the referendum by invitation of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Observers of foreign states and international organizations shall be accredited at the CRC upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 In the current election campaign the accreditation ends at 18.00 Astana time, five days before the voting day, i.e. 30 September 2024.

At the meeting, Nurlan Abdirov also emphasized that it is necessary to pay special attention to the training of members of precinct referendum commissions before the voting day.

The Central Referendum Commission started its work on conducting trainings for commission members in July-August of this year. Thus, at the first stage we provided training for 139 trainers among the members of territorial election commissions, who are exercising powers on a permanent professional basis, at the republican level using the cascade method.

Currently, the certified trainers have been organizing trainings sessions for 1,583 members of territorial referendum commissions. 

Until 15 September, the training will be organized for the management staff of precinct referendum commissions (chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and secretaries) - 30,981 people, and the training will be conducted for 37,346 other members of precinct referendum commissions until the voting day. Thus, the entire staff responsible for organizing the republican referendum will undergo training.

In cooperation with traditional partners, the training will be organized for the representatives of political parties at republican and regional levels, non-governmental organizations and mass media.

The Head of the CRC also said that the inspection visits of the CRC members will take place to the regions to provide information about the preparation and conduct of the referendum. In particular, on issues of informing the population, about the readiness of polling stations for voting day, and the creation of necessary conditions for citizens to vote, including for citizens with disabilities and special needs during voting.

The meeting was followed by a traditional briefing for the media.