An increased interest of international observers for the Referendum

On 4 October, the Central Referendum Commission of Kazakhstan conducted five meetings with the international observers.

Nurlan Abdirov held meetings with the Chairman of the CEC of the Republic of Belarus Igar Karpenka, the Vice Chair of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission Donald Palmer, with the delegation of the Observer Mission from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) headed by the Deputy Secretary General of the OTS Sadi Jafarov and the Members of the Supreme Election Council of Turkey Ali Copur and Ali Ürker. The CRC also met with the Member of the Central Election Commission of Moldova Mircea Catîrău.

During the meeting with Igar Karpenka, the Head of the CRC of Kazakhstan emphasized about the interaction with the CEC of Belarus within the framework of its chairmanship of the Consultative Council of Heads of Central Election Bodies of the CIS Member-states. 

In his speech with Donald Palmer, Nurlan Abdirov underlined that the representative of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission observed the electoral processes in Kazakhstan for the first time.

In turn, Donald Palmer stated the following: “Thank you for the detailed information about democratic reforms in Kazakhstan, it is important for the U.S. that voting is open and transparent. This is my first time in Kazakhstan and it is a great opportunity for me to learn more about Kazakhstan's election and referendum system by participating in the referendum. Preparations for the referendum have been underway for several months and a lot of work has been done.

For the continuation of experience exchange between the election authorities of our countries, we have invited the representatives of the CEC of Kazakhstan to observe the presidential election in the United States on 5 November 2024.

One of the most important issues for the United States is ensuring the voting rights of people with disabilities. Today I was informed that Kazakhstan also attaches the great importance to these issues”.

The cooperation with the OTS is carried out, among other issues, within the framework of the implementation of the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the establishment of the Advisory Council of the Central Electoral Bodies of the OTG Member-states, and with Turkey and Moldova - within the framework of the implementation of bilateral memorandums.

At the meetings Nurlan Abdirov also informed the guests about the preparation and conduct of the republican referendum scheduled for 6 October, as well as the readiness of polling stations for the voting day, answered to the questions of the meetings participants about the organization and conduct of the plebiscite, the main stages of the campaign and summing up its results.

During the meetings, the CRC Chairman emphasized that the country attaches great importance to the participation of international observers in election campaigns as well as demonstration of the support for the democratic development of Kazakhstan. 

The participants of the meetings noted peaceful, friendly situation in the country ahead of the referendum, high professional level of preparation of the campaign organizers and expressed their readiness for the observation of the voting day in objective and impartial manner.