Elections Are The Condition Of Democratic Reforms

The practical seminar workshop for the chairpersons and secretaries of district election committees on the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place in Tashkent. The members of the Central Election Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, chairpersons and secretaries of district election committees, as well as representatives of mass media participated at the seminar.

The Chairman of the Central Election Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan M.Abdusalomov spoke about ensuring observance of legislative acts on preparing and holding the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Elections in Uzbekistan in line with Constitution and national election legislation are held by way of secret voting based on the universal, equal and direct suffrage. Therefore indeed, the elections are one of the important factors of raising the social and political activeness of citizens, shaping the political and legal culture in them, establishing the democratic law-governed state and strong civil society.

The Central Election Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, district and divisional election committees shall ensure holding of elections. They are called up to promote implementation of democratic principles of election system and provide for the free expression of people’s will.

Decisions by election committees taken within the scope of their powers shall be mandatory for implementation by all state and public bodies, enterprises, agencies and organizations. The state and public bodies, bodies of political parties, enterprises, agencies, organizations and officials are obliged to assist the election committees in executing their powers, provide with data and materials deem necessary for their work.

The Central Election Committee on all territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan undertakes control over the implementation of Law “On elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and provides for its uniform application, within its powers issues instructions and provides with explanations on organization of elections, as well as directs the activity of election committees.

For over the past period the Central Election Committee established 14 election districts in the borders of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, provinces and the city of Tashkent, established the district election committees, and approved their nominal list. The latter has been printed in mass media. The committees include the chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and not least than 8 people. At the moment, these committees started to work.

It should be underscored that the make-up of district election committees in line with requirements of the national election legislation has been established by Central Election Committee based on the proposals by local Kengashs (councils) of people’s deputies out of the respected representatives of public with their affiliation with no party. This must ensure the fairness in their work.

The participants of seminar workshop were offered detailed information on the order of operations of district election committees on holding elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In keeping with law and the CEC calendar schedule, the district election committees established the polling stations. Until November 13 given the immediate participation of district and city Kengashs of people’s deputies they shall establish divisional election committees.

All necessary organizational and legal conditions have been created so that the election committees could openly and transparently carry out the work on preparing and holding the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. After all, only in such society, where the openness and fairness reign, the elections are truly held based on democratic principles, in the framework of national legislation and in line with the world standards. In this, certainly, it is required so that the mass media fairly and objectively cover all events related to the preparation and holding of elections. The Central Election Committee renders profound assistance in this.

The participants of seminar visited the CEC Press Center and learned about conditions created for journalists. The conference hall and cabinets are furnished with modern furniture, and equipped with computer and Xerox technology, telephones and faxes. All conditions have been created at the press center so that the representatives of mass media could rapidly receive, as well as prepare and transmit the necessary information over the Internet.

The head of the Central Election Committee Press Center B.Alimov gave the participants of seminar the practical recommendations and explanations on ensuring the publicity, openness and transparency of election campaign, working with representatives of mass media, and establishing the press centers at district election committees. The participants received the manuals prepared by the Central Election Committee.

The delegates to the seminar workshop also visited one of the polling stations established on the territory of the Tashkent city election district. They have learned about the conditions created there for voters.