| Participation in the Election Visitor Program in the Kyrgyz Republic |
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| Last updated 2024-12-02 |
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Two officials from the A-WEB Secretariat, Mr. Seung Kim, Director of the Training and Electoral Observation Department, and Mr. Max Ahn, Senior Researcher, participated in the International Observer Program for the Local Assembly Elections of the Kyrgyz Republic, in response to the invitation of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER).
Day 1: A Briefing Session On November 16, the Kyrgyz CCER organized a briefing session where Chairperson N. Shaildabekova welcomed representatives from EMBs and international organizations. During the session, she provided an overview of the country’s electoral systems and technologies.
In the Q&A session, Senior Researcher Mr. Max Ahn inquired about a change to the system and size of the ballot paper. The Chairperson explained that the Kyrgyz Republic had adopted on-site printing of smaller ballot papers as part of its commitment to environmental initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement. The head of the CCER added that the traditional method of printing and distributing all ballot papers to polling stations was more costly and involved greater consumption of trees and fossil fuels.
Day 2: Election Day
On Election Day, the A-WEB delegates visited several polling stations in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as nearby villages. They observed the entire process, from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes, noting the well-organized voting and counting procedures.
The delegates commended the professionalism of the precinct election commission (PEC) officials, who demonstrated a thorough understanding of their roles. These PEC officials ensured that voters could exercise their suffrage freely and fairly while guiding observers through the procedures. They provided detailed explanations of every aspect of election management, covering both polling and counting processes.
Day 3: A Debriefing Session
On November 18, the delegation of the A-WEB Secretariat attended a debriefing session following the 2024 Kyrgyz Local Assembly Elections.
The session brought together international observers from various countries and organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Observers collectively noted that the elections were conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, commending the peaceful atmosphere as well as the strong capacity demonstrated by the PECs.
Director Seung Kim highlighted the value of witnessing the effective use of technologies introduced a decade ago through A-WEB's partnership with the Kyrgyz Republic, reaffirming A-WEB’s commitment to supporting its members.
The CCER Chairperson expressed gratitude to participants and reaffirmed the Commission's dedication to electoral integrity and democratic progress. |
