Election of Maslikhat deputies of Kazakhstan

Deputies of Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan are elected in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a 5-year term in office. Pursuant to Clause 3 of Article 86 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan deputy of a Maslikhat may be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan who has reached twenty years of age and has a right to vote. A citizen of the Republic may be a deputy of only one Maslikhat A citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan may not run for Maslikhat, if he/she has a conviction that has not been cancelled or expunged according to the regulations set by the Law, or if he/she has been declared by a court to be incapable or is held in custody under a court sentence. Candidates for Maslikhats are nominated by the Republican or local public associations registered in accordance with set procedures and also by their structural divisions, and by citizens – through self-nomination. Nomination of candidates for Maslikhats runs from June 22 to July 17, 2007. Election of Maslikhats deputies of the Republic is held on alternative basis. If by the day of termination of candidates’ registration less than two candidates for Maslikhat have been registered in a relevant electoral district, then the territorial election commission, based on the recommendation submitted by a corresponding district election commission, extends the term for nomination of candidates, for no longer than twenty days. The candidate is considered to be elected as the Maslikhat deputy if he/she received the majority of votes as compared to other candidates. Registration of candidates to the deputies of Maslikhats is held from June 22 to July 23, 2007. If the elections have been declared invalid and void, the territorial election commission issues a decision to rerun elections. Votes are to be cast in the same polling station and the electoral registers to be used will be the same that were made for initial elections. Elections are to be rerun within 2 months of the initial elections.

Authorized representatives

A political party that has nominated its party list and candidates for Maslikhat have the right to have authorized representatives to help them in election campaigns, to conduct pre-election campaigns and represent the interests of candidates and political parties. An authorized representative is a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who may not be a member of any election commission or be a political civil servant. Authorized representatives have rights and responsibilities of observers of political parties, other public associations, non-government organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and act within the limits of authority granted to them in writing by the candidate or the political party, which has put forward the party list. Authorized representatives lose their status upon completion of an election campaign, upon their own initiative or following a decision of the candidate and the political party which has put forward the party list, or in case of cancellation of registration of the candidate or the party list, or breach of the Election Law. 

Pre-election campaign

A pre-election campaign starts upon termination of registration of party lists, candidates for Maslikhats, and ends at 00.00 hours, local time, of the day preceding the day of elections. A pre-election campaign is the activity aiming at inducing voters to take part in voting for or against a political party that has nominated its party list for Mazhilis elections or a candidate for Maslikhat. Foreigners, stateless persons, foreign legal entities and international organizations are prohibited from conducting activities hindering and (or) facilitating nomination and election of candidates, political parties and achievement of certain results at elections.

Voting Time and Venue

In case of elections of Mazhilis and Maslikhats Deputies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, voting is done in dedicated premises equipped in accordance with the requirements of the Constitutional Law ‘On the Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan’ (hereinafter referred to as Election Law).
On the ballot day local election commissions open polling stations one hour prior to the start of voting.
In case of elections of Mazhilis and maslikhats deputies, voting is held on the election day from 7 am to 8 p.m., local time.
Following a recommendation of the corresponding Akim and divisional election commissions, territorial or district election commissions may choose other timing for start and end of voting. However, voting may not begin before 6 a.m. and end after 10 p.m. Voters are informed about the decision of the territorial or district commissions to change the time for the start and end of voting no later than seven days prior to the ballot day.
A local election commission notifies its voters through mass media, as well as through other means, about the time and place of voting no later than ten days prior to the voting.
In polling stations formed on ships belonging to the Republic of Kazakhstan, which on the election day are at sea, as well as in military units, remote and hard-to-reach areas, distant cattle grazing pastures, rest houses, health resorts, hospitals, investigatory isolators and temporary detention facilities and in representative offices and agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan in foreign states, a local election commission may declare the voting completed at any time if all voters on the voter list have voted. A list of such polling stations is approved by the corresponding election commission no later than seven days prior to elections.

Example: Maslikhat for the East Kazakhstan region

East Kazakhstan regional Maslikhat

Elected body, elected by the population of the region, expressing will of the population and according to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan defining measures, necessary for their realization, and controlling their realization.

43 deputies are in structure of the regional Maslikhat.
Secretary of the East Kazakhstan regional Maslikhat – Akhayev Vasily Ivanovich

Functions:

1. Within the granted powers, is responsible for support of complex social and economic development of the territory, protection of citizens’ rights, serving their legitimate interests.

2. Together with regional akimat and akim develops and submits at sessions for consideration of projects of economic and social programs development of the territory, sanitary and accomplishment rules, scheme of regional administration and other questions.

3. Together with constant and auditing commissions of the regional maslikhat controls for execution of decisions about the local budget.

4. Together with constant, auditing commissions develops, submits for consideration at sessions and after confirmation provides execution of maslikhat’s Rules.

5. Creates technical and organizing conditions for work of chairman of the maslikhat sessions.

6. Brings to notice of deputies, regional akim and the population the time and place of carrying out of maslikhat sessions, project of its agenda.

7. Provides preparation of maslikhat sessions and questions, submitted to its consideration, drawing up of a session report, together with chairman of session signs decisions of maslikhat and report of sessions.

8. Assists deputies in realization of their powers, organizes provision them with necessary information, considers the questions connected with deputies dismission from discharge of their duties for work in maslikhat, its agencies, election districts.

9. Coordinates activity of constant, auditing commissions and other agencies of maslikhat, deputy groups.

10. Provides publication of decisions of regional maslikhat, defines measures on control for their execution.

11. Brings to confirmation of maslikhat the structure and staffs of the maslikhat machinery, control its work, appoints and dismisses its workers. On behalf of maslikhat keeps in contact with the population, labour collectives, enterprises, institutions and organizations irrespective of patterns of ownership. Represents in maslikhat the summary data about offers, wishes, letters, came from voters. According to maslikhat decisions, provides citizens’ discussion of projects of major maslikhat decisions, questions of local and republican value. In the machinery, organizes citizens’ reception, consideration of references, applications, complaints. Within the competence publishes order.