Raising competence of chairmen of district electoral commissions in the national electoral legislation and its practical application as well as issues concerning the correct arrangement of district commission activity during elections, strict observance of financing procedure for district commissions and identifying the most important tasks was the key topic of the meeting.

Participants of the conference were presented with detailed information on the work over the past period in compliance with the abovementioned concept.

It was especially put that the main task for election commissions is to ensure transparent, open and public elections based on democratic principles, norms and regulations of the current legislation. It was highlighted that they should pay a constant attention to issues like strict observance of national legislation by all participants of the election campaign at all levels, in compliance with the law.

“This seminar inspired us for active work on addressing such issues as interaction with local authorities, political parties, mahallas or electorate. The upcoming elections are qualitatively distinguished from the parliamentary elections held in 2004. Previously, it was divisional election commissions which organized meetings with electorate. Now parties will arrange those meetings themselves. Our role in this process will be coordination of law observance. Another innovation is the institution of authorized representative of a political party who participates in ballot box opening and counting of votes. I can confidently say that electoral legislation provides fore more transparency for more democratic elections by introducing these changes,” commented Aleksandr Skripkin, chairman of Jizzakh regional election commission.

The same day, the seminar participants visited the Railway election district №126 for election to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, where they got acquainted with the work of the district election commission. Participants could make sure in real arrangement of all conditions for the elections.
The commission is provided with all the necessary technical facilities including computers with access to the internet, as well as telephones, fax machines and copiers. They have texts of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, collection of laws on elections and other juridical literature. The stands and posters contain all information about polling stations in the election district area.

According to Azamat Umarov, chairman of Samarqand regional election commission, the upcoming elections will become another important step on the way to the further democratization of our society.

“District election commissions are imposed with great responsibility for arranging the upcoming elections in accordance with laws, principles of openness, publicity and justice. This seminar-conference is of collosal importance for elections to be held on high democratic level, appropriate organization of district election commissions. Sixty constituencies have been arranged in our region by the present time. We conducted seminars for chairmen of district election commissions. We carry on explanatory work with population involving representatives of local mahallas, tell about elections, new regulations in the election legislation,” he noted.

As Shokirjon Mirzaakhmedov, chairman of the Namangan regional election commission, told, the required organizational work has been carried out in the region.

“A press group consisting of seven experienced journalists was formed. They established a permanent contact with political parties and territorial branch of the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan. They prepare materials on the course of election campaign in the local mass media,” Mirzaakhmedov said.

“We take into account the participation of young people in elections. Some 121,000 voters will take part in the elections, and youths comprise 30% of that number. We developed a plan and are going to arrange some meetings with representatives of the youth to introduce election laws and voters rights,” noted Azat Matikov, chairman of the 1st Nukus district election commission.

Chairmen of district election commissions were provided with detailed answers by members of Central Election Commission for all queries related to the appropriate organization and conduction of the upcoming elections to the lower house of parliament, local councils of people’s representatives.