UNDP in Kazakhstan: trainings countrywide held for young members of election commissions
Since the beginning of October similar regional workshops were held in Aktobe, Almaty, Atyrau, Kokshetau, and Pavlodar, the press service of the UNPD in Kazakhstan reports.
Trainings were organized within the frames of the project "Enhancement of Electoral Awareness and Inclusive Democratic Development of the Kazakhstani society", initiated in 2010. The main objectives of the project are increasing awareness and interest of young voters to the electoral process as well as strengthening the capacity of territorial and local election bodies. In September of the current year, a series of trainings for young voters were held. As for the current trainings, the target audience is the young members of election commissions. These seminars are particularly relevant because of upcoming elections of the Mazhilis deputies of the Republic of Kazakhstan and deputies of maslikhats.
As a part of these trainings, young members of election commissions have thoroughly studied the theory of electoral law and participated in role-plays, simulating various stages of the electoral process. As noted by the participant Ms. Sholpan Kazhygalieva, the executive secretary of district election commission in Almaty city: "This is my first time participating in such seminar and it was very interesting discover how many nuances the electoral process has". Mr. Asylbek Syrlybaev, the secretary of the district territorial election commission of Zhambyl region, noted: "For us, young members of election commissions, role-plays where various situations were created, imitating preparation process for the election day, were extremely useful. I wish such workshops were conducted in all the regions on a regular basis".
In addition to conducted trainings and within the frames of the project, interactive educational computer games on electoral matters as well as www.umitker.kz web-portal were developed to increase legal awareness of voters.
