Programme Office in Bishkek supports training on voter identification procedures

From 14 August to 28 August 2017 the Programme Office in Bishkek supported a series of training sessions on voter identification procedures and other election-related matters. Twenty-five master trainers, 186 trainers as well as 500 operators and maintenance specialists from all regions of Kyrgyzstan were trained in the effective operation of the voter identification system during the upcoming October presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan. Subsequently, the trained operators and maintenance specialists will instruct over 9,500 operators, who will be engaged in voter identification on Election Day.

The participants were provided with training materials, including manuals on voter identification procedures and recommendations for trainers published with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

One of the main tasks of the Central Election Commission for the improvement of the electoral system in Kyrgyzstan is to establish an inclusive, up-to-date and reliable voter list based on biometric data and proper operation of the voter identification system, which allows voters to exercise their fundamental civil right to vote.

The series of training sessions was conducted under an OSCE project aimed to assist the country in conducting democratic elections in 2016 and 2017 in line with the country’s OSCE commitments. The project focuses on improving electoral legislation, enhancing the capacity of the Central Election Commission to administer elections, and advancing the voter identification system in co-operation with the State Registry Service.