A working group consisting of senior and influential MPs like D.Lundeejantsan, Ch.Saikhanbileg, Z.Enkhbold, D.Oyunkhorol, D.Arvin, Su.Batbold, E.Bat-Uul, S.Lambaa, D.Odkhuu, D.Odbayar, S.Oyun and J.Sukhbaatar last Friday submitted a draft law on elections to Parliament to Speaker D.Demberel. Proposing to retain the general structure of the existing law, the draft has 12 chapters, 195 articles and 62 provisions in 284 sections. Altogether 48 articles and 7 chapters have been added, and three chapters with 15 articles deleted. Some 65 percent of the law has been amended.

Voting will be on any Wednesday in the second half of June. The date will be announced no less than 60 days before the election. The number of voters in any polling center will be 2,000 in soums, 3,000 in provincial centers and 4,000 in Ulaanbaatar.

The election committees at each center will no longer include representatives of parties, unions and individual candidates. Instead, they will have only government staff. The draft also proposes to make the local State Registration Service for preparing and updating the voter list at each constituency.

The draft lists procedures to be followed when nominating candidates, from parties and unions as well as non-party individuals, the qualifications for candidates, grounds for rejection of nominations, etc. A party will appoint no more than 76 candidates taking into account their education, experience, capabilities and commitment. The selection of the candidates will begin from the lowest level of the party organization. A party’s general meeting or central board will select candidates through secret ballot. Independent candidates must show they have the support of at least 801 eligible voters in the constituency, which also has to be his area of residence.

Every candidate must have their campaign expenses estimated by some external organization. There will be no money promises during a campaign. A candidate cannot receive more than MNT1 million from an individual and MNT3 million from an organization. Any amount over this will go to the state coffers. The present prohibition on donations from foreign countries, international organizations, and foreign citizens, state owned organizations and NGOs has been retained. No donation can be received from bankrupt or indebted sources, or from anybody who has worked for less than a year in their present organization.

The voter will circle the name of only one candidate. A political party will have to poll at least 7 percent of total valid votes to get representation in Parliament. The total percentage received by a party will be divided proportionally among its candidates. Independents who got more than 7 percent will be considred elected.

One of the developers of the draft, E.Bat-Uul, answered questions.

Why are amendments to the Election Law necessary?

The present law has been universally criticized.  The July 1 incidents showed what the results of a bad election law can be. Many perceive the present law as favoring those with more money to spend. An election must be as fair as possible. Only then will all results be accepted in good grace. Disputes and grievances come only things have been done unfairly.

Will the elections be fair under the provisions of this draft?

I will not say that our draft is flawless. Something like that is not possible. We have tried to make the fewest mistakes and to make it widely acceptable. We wanted to reform the whole election process.

How will a party select its candidates?

Each party will appoint 76 candidates at most. The one that got the most votes within the party will be listed first. The voter will select one candidate. Every party list has to include the name of at least two Kazakhs.

The registration organizations will prepare the list of voters, and not the General Election Committee. Citizens abroad will also be able to vote.

Why do you want the election to be held on a weekday?

Voter participation is low during weekends. Maybe do not wish to leave the house. Also, ballots will not be counted manually. They will be counted by “smart” boxes. The use of technology will be a big gain. A machine cannot favor the interests of any political force.

What about a quota for women?

We have suggested that at least 15 percent of the candidates have to be women.

And Independents?

There is no ban on them but it will be very difficult for them. Such candidates will possibly have to establish a union and stand for that. 

Will there be a fresh election if an MP resigns or is dismissed?

No. The candidate who got the second most votes at the election will be appointed as his/her successor.