On June 28, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan held a meeting dedicated to preparations for holding a referendum on reforming the Constitution, the CEC’s press service reported.
The commission members approved the regulations on constituencies and district commissions, referendum precincts and precinct commissions. The Training Center for Electoral Legislation and Modern Technologies of the CEC Secretariat will improve the skills of members of referendum commissions.
As expected, candidates for chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and secretaries of precinct commissions will be trained on a two-day program in July-August.
Bakhrom Kochkarov, deputy chairman of the CEC, said that the commission "is not making up any innovations" in this matter.
“The system of referendum commissions is formed similarly as the system of election commissions. The system of constituencies and precincts, formed last year during the presidential elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan, will also work in the process of holding this referendum,” he said.
It was highlighted at the meeting that equal representation of women and men would be ensured in the referendum commissions. In addition, conditions will be created for the will of all segments of the population, including people with disabilities and the blind.
CEC Chairperson Zainiddin Nizamkhodzhaev reminded that according to the law, after the decision on setting the date of the referendum, voting can be scheduled for any day in the period from one and a half to three months from the date of publication of the resolutions of the chambers of parliament on this.
Currently, the draft amendments to the Constitution are being discussed nationwide, which will last until July 4 inclusive.
The training for commission members will be organized in three stages. “More than 140,000 members of precinct and district commissions will have to be trained in a short time,” the head of the CEC said.
On June 20, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at a meeting with members of the constitutional commission on the formation of proposals for amendments to the Constitution, proposed to adopt amendments to the Constitution through a referendum.
A little earlier, the head of state signed amendments to the referendum law, which provide for changes in the powers of election commissions, expanding the rights of observers, and more. According to the changes, now decisions made by a referendum can be canceled not only by a referendum.
