Kazakhstan to amend election law

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s election law is going to be amended. To this end, MPs will be selected to a special commission of the two chambers of Parliament.
As Mazhilis deputy Snezhanna Imasheva reported, the goal is to adjust certain provisions of the legislation taking into account electoral practice, as well as to improve the electoral system. The draft Constitutional Law and two accompanying draft laws have been prepared by the government.

“They are aimed at improving procedural issues in elections, tightening requirements for candidates for President, deputies of Parliament and maslikhats, akims, as well as for members of election commissions, and at regulating campaigning and the formation and use of the election fund of candidates for akim,” Imasheva said.

In particular, according to the deputy, persons convicted of corruption-related, serious and especially serious crimes will no longer be able to become members of election commissions. Issues of transfer or retention of the powers of election commissions and their members in the event of reorganization of administrative-territorial units will also be regulated.

“It will be possible to suspend the powers of a member of a territorial election commission for the period of maternity/childcare leave or study leave and appoint a temporary member of the election commission in their place. A ban is introduced on a candidate receiving funding other than through election funds, as well as liability for violating this requirement,” Snezhanna Imasheva added.

At the same time, liability is established for members of election commissions for exceeding their powers and violating the law. The age requirement for observers is clarified: only citizens of Kazakhstan aged 18 and over may act as observers.
It is also proposed to regulate the procedure for holding repeat voting in akim elections if candidates receive an equal number of votes.
Today, at the plenary session of the Mazhilis, MPs will consider the inclusion of deputies in the special commission of the chambers of Parliament.
By law, all constitutional laws in Parliament are examined by deputies of both chambers.