The authors of the bill are confident that reducing the number of commission members will enhance its efficiency.
Research shows that the size of electoral bodies can vary depending on their powers, the area of the territory, and the population size. The experience of other countries demonstrates that the number of members in a collegial body is not always related to its effectiveness or the speed of decision-making. Reducing the size of the CEC could optimize management processes and also reduce the financial burden on the country’s budget, including expenses for salaries, logistical support, and social guarantees. This, in turn, will increase the individual responsibility of commission members for the decisions made, the deputies note.
Initiators emphasize that time plays a critical role during elections. The need for rapid responses to electoral disputes, candidate registration, and the annulment of decisions by lower commissions requires immediate action. Practice shows that as the size of the collegial body increases, it becomes more challenging to reach a consensus or conduct a quick vote.As part of the proposed changes, it is planned to establish that the CEC will consist of seven members for a term of five years (currently, there are 12 members).
The Jogorku Kenesh will elect three members of the commission based on the president's recommendations and four on its own initiative, with no more than 70% of them being of the same gender. A procedure for the dismissal of commission members in cases provided by law is also proposed. In the current version of the law, half of the members are elected based on the president's nomination, while the other half is initiated by the parliament itself. — Note from Kaktus.media
Additionally, the bill includes amendments to the Law "On the Regulations of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic," clarifying who can initiate the early dismissal of CEC members. It will stipulate that the president submits proposals for the early dismissal of three members, while the Jogorku Kenesh submits proposals for four.
This approach, according to the developers, creates logical completeness in the staffing cycle and eliminates legal uncertainty in the country's legislation. The proposed changes do not violate the principle of the CEC's independence but merely clarify the mechanisms of its formation to enhance its operational efficiency.It is worth noting that this bill has not yet been published on the Jogorku Kenesh website for public discussion.
