Today, November 30, at 8:00 AM, polling stations opened across Kyrgyzstan, marking the start of early elections for the Jogorku Kenesh.
During a live briefing on NTRK, the chairman of the Central Election Commission, Tynchtyk Shainazarov, announced the beginning of voting nationwide.
According to him, there are 2,492 polling stations open in the republic, including 27 remote voting stations and 100 stations located abroad.
“To ensure maximum access for citizens to the electoral process, remote voting has been introduced for the first time in our country, which does not require prior application,” noted T. Shainazarov.
Today, 27 remote voting stations have also started operating in places with large crowds, such as major markets, shopping centers, medical institutions, and in remote areas, including Kumtor, Kara-Keche, Jeruy, and Bozymchak.
The head of the CEC emphasized that this approach provides the opportunity for voters who are traveling, working, undergoing treatment, or serving to cast their votes. This is an important step towards improving the accessibility and transparency of the electoral process.
Voting is already actively underway in foreign countries. The first polling stations opened in the Far East of Russia, where the time is 6, 5, and 4 hours ahead of Bishkek.
Following that, voting began in East Asian countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Malaysia, and Mongolia, where the time difference is 2-3 hours.
In countries where the time difference is 1 hour, voting is also actively continuing. In some countries, polling stations will open later — by 3-4 or 5-6 hours, and in North American countries — by 11, 12, and up to 14 hours later compared to Bishkek.
According to T. Shainazarov, the final voter list includes 4,294,243 citizens.
The day before, on November 29, voting was organized outside polling places for citizens who, due to health, age, or other valid reasons, could not come to the station.
According to the CEC, 10,335 applications were received at 1,332 precinct election commissions, and yesterday, 9,318 voters voted outside polling places. “All procedures were carried out in strict accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic,” he added.
T. Shainazarov also reported that 460 candidates are participating in the early elections for deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh across 30 multi-mandate districts: 271 men and 189 women.
Throughout the day, the CEC will regularly inform the public about the progress of voting. Operational information on voter turnout will be provided every two hours live, and on the official CEC website — hourly.
Polling stations will operate until 8:00 PM local time.
T. Shainazarov emphasized that significant steps have been taken this year to improve the accessibility of the electoral process thanks to remote voting stations, which allow voting in any situation.
He urged voters to exercise their right and come to the stations to make their choice. “The future of our country depends on the activity and responsibility of each of us,” he noted.
The chairman of the CEC also reminded about the main principle: “one voter — one vote,” adding that failure to comply with the procedure for filling out the ballot will render it invalid.
“May today pass calmly and organized, confirming the desire of the people of Kyrgyzstan for open and responsible elections,” he concluded.
