Early Presidential Election, 26 April 2015

Press Conference

Following an official invitation, and based on the findings and conclusions of an OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission undertaken from 3 to 6 March, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the 26 April early presidential election.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Corien Jonker, consists of 12 international experts based in Astana. In addition, 30 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 31 March.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess these elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Short-term observers

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested participating States to second one hundred fifty (150) short-term observers (STOs) to observe voting, counting and the tabulation of results. Please consult information sheet request for short-term observers for more information and register on the Short-Term Observers Database: http://stodb.odihr.pl

Election Day

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested 400 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 26 April early presidential election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed seven elections in Kazakhstan, most recently the 2012 early parliamentary elections.