The Republican Press Center on covering the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has played host October 4, 2016, to a panel discussion on the significance of presidential ballot. The event was organized by the Central Election Commission in cooperation with the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The roundtable discussion gathered members of the Central Election Commission, the Academy of Public Administration, jurisprudence scholars, experts in the field of electoral law, representatives of mass media.

Chairman of the Central Election Commission Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov noted that in the years of independence, as a result of steadfast modernization of the political, public and legal spheres, a national electoral system has been created in our country that meets the highest democratic requirements. In this regard, the right of citizens to participate in government and governance is being secured to a full extent. It becomes imperative to cement the democratic principles of organization of elections on the basis of universally recognized norms and provisions enshrined in Uzbekistan’s Constitution and laws.

Preparations for the elections due on December 4 this year are carried out amid the environment of enhancing processes of reforms and democratization, growing political and public activity and civic responsibility of the people and their mounting demands in the assessment of socio-political and socio-economic transformation, of the activities of political parties and civil society institutions. It is carried out in strict accordance with the Program of Major Events for the preparations and conduct of elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

It was highlighted at the occasion that elections are held in our country on the basis of universally accepted standards of universality, equal suffrage, direct and secret ballot, voluntary participation in voting, and transparency. In particular, in accordance with amendments and addenda introduced in 2015 into the Law on Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, electoral campaigning is prohibited not only on the election day, but also the day before the vote.

As it was noted at the panel discussion, a crucial role in ensuring the openness and transparency of the electoral process is played by mass media. The Uzbek media have been active in covering the preparations for the forthcoming elections in the country. As a clear indication of this, the Central Election Commission has to date accredited more than 500 representatives of foreign and national media.

All the activities of election commissions are held with the participation of journalists. Regularly aired are TV and radio programs on the subject matter, while videos are demonstrated explaining the stages of the electoral process to voters. The campaign is also widely covered on the pages of print and online editions.

Those speaking at the roundtable discussion expounded on the importance of the upcoming presidential elections, on the basic criteria for the conduct of election campaign with an eye to the principles of publicity and transparency, and on the latest amendments and addenda introduced into the electoral law.

At the panel discussion that was held in the format of interactive dialogue and exchange of views, the participants received detailed answers to their questions.

(Source: Republican Press Center on Covering the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)