Election day commenced peacefully with few minor violations
Bishkek, October 4, 2020 – 11:00 – Public Foundation “Common Cause” (the Foundation) deployed 300 stationary observers, 58 mobile teams and eight regional lawyers across the country, to observe the opening procedures, voting, counting and tabulation of results. The Foundation is implementing a Sample Based Observation (SBO) methodology, an advanced election monitoring technique enabling it to draw conclusions about selected election day processes representative of the entire country.
Observers report that the election day commenced peacefully with few minor violations observed. All Common Cause observers have been granted access to observe elections at designated polling stations.
Opening procedures were largely conducted according to the law.
A vast majority of polling stations (83 percent) held preparatory meetings for opening by 07:30. Observers reported that 68 percent of polling stations are fully accessible for people with limited mobility, and an additional 20% are partially accessible.
At most polling stations (91 percent), the PECs fully followed procedures related to COVID-19 during the preparation for opening. Observers reported that PECs partially followed these procedures at 8 percent of polling stations. At 96 percent of polling stations, specific roles were assigned among poll workers by drawing lots according to the law. Ballot boxes were shown to be empty at almost all (99.7 percent) observed polling stations, and properly sealed at 99 percent of them. A signed checklist was dropped in the ballot box at 98 percent of polling stations, and a manual count of received ballots took place at 93 percent of polling stations.
Minor Procedural Incidents Observed
- Late meeting of the PEC: 1305 Bishkek; 1321 Bishkek; 8152 Kadamjai rayon, Batken oblast
- No draw to distribute PEC roles: 1305 Bishkek, 1321 Bishkek
- No manual count of ballots took place: 1321 Bishkek, 1208 Bishkek, 7378 Panfilov rayon, Chui oblast, 7211 Sokuluk, Chui oblast
- Early/late opening of polling stations: 8152 Kadamjai rayon, Batken oblast
PEC Submissions/Complaints
Common Cause observers have filed 10 written submissions at PECs about above-mentioned incidents.
Common Cause will monitor election day processes and submit complaints on serious violations of electoral legislation. So far, no official complaints have been filed by Common Cause.
Common Cause will release its data on voter turnout at 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00 through infographics. The next press release will be published at 16:00, covering the voting process until 14:00.
