CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
(as of March 12, 2018)
Under the wise leadership of the respected President of Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan has successfully pursued a policy aimed to further strengthening the legal foundations of society and strengthening the democratic traditions of great-grandfathers in our country that chose the democratic path of development.
On the basis of the resolution of Mejlis of Turkmenistan of November 25, 2017 to Sunday March 25, 2018 were appointed the elections of deputies of Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of velayat, etrap, city halk maslahaty and Gengeshes.
The election campaign began on December 4, 2017.
For the purpose of organized elections, over the country was organized 7465 constituencies. More precisely,
Over the elections of deputies of Mejlis of Turkmenistan were formed 125 constituencies, including:
Over the elections of members of the velayat halk maslahaty over the country were formed 240 constituencies, including:
Over the elections of members of the etrap, city halk maslahaty over the country were formed 1200 constituencies, including:
The elections of members of Gengeshes was held in 605 Gengeshes. Over the elections of members of the Gengeshes over the country were formed 5900 constituencies, including:
From the operating in the country political parties, public associations and groups of citizens:
For conduct of voting in elections, were formed 2604 polling precincts, including:
At foreign diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan (the consular organizations) were formed 39 polling precincts.
In institutions educations were formed 1730 polling precincts. Namely:
Elections were in the center of attention of the public of country and observers from all over the world. During all stages of the elections, monitored 4072 national observers, registered in the elections commissions of the velayats and the Ashgabat city from political parties, public organizations, groups of citizens and nominated by candidates national observers, including:
The number of national observers nominated from political parties, public organizations, groups of citizens:
National observers appointed from political parties, public organizations, groups of citizens and candidates monitored all phases of the elections.
Also, 142 international observers monitored all phases of the elections.
During the elections observed:
The period of candidate nomination lasted from January 24 to February 22, 2018.
Registration of candidates was held from February 3 to February 27.
Past elections on March 25, 2018 will remain in the history of elections as elections in which was the greatest number of registration of candidates. Over the elections were proposed and registered 16558 candidates. Namely:
From political parties was nominated 10347, and from groups of citizens 6211 candidates.
Over the elections for one post claimed from two to three candidates. Namely:
Since March 15-24, 2018 was early voting, and 101106 voters used it.
In the election day voting in polling precincts were held from 7 to 19 o'clock.
From 3291525 registered voters, voted 3019957 or 91,75%. More precisely:
At 09-00 voted 791089 or 24,03%;
At 11-00 1546049 or 46,97%;
At 13-00 2122176 or 64,47%;
At 15-00 2559503 or 77,76%;
At 17-00 2841818 or 86,34%;
At 19-00 3019957 or 91,75% voters.
Outside the country there were registered 20001 voters out of which 18362 are voted.
In the elections participated also 62645 voters, who reached the age of 18 by the election day .
12834 voters (for health reasons) voted outside the polling precinct.
Firstly, over the elections in 37 polling precincts of velayats and Ashgabat city was installed cameras and with support of Central election commission's website saylav.gov.tm in on-line mode demonstrated the voting process.
Website of Central Election Commission saylav.gov.tm visited 170969 people, and online demonstration used 24377 people.
Over the country in elections to authorities were elected 7465 people of 16558 registered candidates. Including:
To deputies of Mejlis of Turkmenistan to members of velayat, etrap, city halk maslahaty and Gengeshes was nominated and elected:
From 10347 candidates nominated by political parties was elected 4967 members;
From 6211 candidates nominated by groups of citizens was elected 2498 members.
From 125 elected deputies of Mejlis of Turkmenistan 24,80% of them are women;
From 240 elected members of Ashgabat city and velayat halk maslahaty 20,42%;
From 1200 elected members of etrap, city halk maslahaty 26,00%
From 5900 elected members of Gengeshes 22,05%.
100% of the elected deputies of Mejlis of Turkmenistan with the higher education.
From the elected members of Ashgabat city and velayat halk maslahaty 92,08% with the highest, 6,67% with the secondary special, 1,25% with the secondary education.
From the elected members of etrap, city halk maslahaty 79,41% with the highest, 16,17% with the secondary special, 4,42% with the secondary education.
From the elected members of Gengeshes 51,02% with the highest, 32,27% with the secondary special, 16,71% with the secondary education.
Among the elected in elections 10,57% of people are under 30 years old, 26,34% are from 30 to 40 years old, 31,96% are from 40 to 50 years old, 31,13% are over 50 years old.
The number actively working in election commissions for the organized holding of elections exceeds 24 thousand people.
An important responsibility facing to elections commissions will be the organizing elections, guided by wise behests, instructions of the Dear President, in accordance with Constitution of Turkmenistan, electoral code of Turkmenistan, on a democratic basis, on a high level, on a multi-party basis, on a conditions of alternativeness.
Central commission for holding elections
and referendums in Turkmensitan.
(as of March 12, 2018)
Under the wise leadership of the respected President of Turkmenistan, in the implementation of reforms, a comprehensive democratization of state and public life and the improvement of the political system are assigned a special place.
As a full-fledged member of the world community, Turkmenistan is now carrying out fruitful work to deepen the principles of democracy.
Every day, the pace of work aimed at introducing modern methods of elections, the creation of civil society institutions and the further democratization of the country's socio-political life are increasing.
These days, in our country another important socio-political event preparatory work for the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk maslahaty, velayats, etraps, towns and Gengeshes has been widely unfolded.
According to the decree of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan dated November 25, 2017, the elections are scheduled for Sunday, March 25, 2018.
In accordance with the decree of the Central Commission for Holding Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan on December 2, 2017, it was announced the beginning of the election campaign for the election of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk maslahaty, velayats, etraps, towns and Gengeshes on December 4, 2017.
The elections will be held on an alternative basis, with the participation of three political parties, namely the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Agrarian Party.
Article 44 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan noted: “Citizens have the right to form political parties and other public associations operating within the Constitution and laws.”
The increasing political activity of Turkmen citizens and their involvement in the ongoing economic and political transformations in society is evidence of a steadily pursued state policy.
On January 10, 2012, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan adopted the Law of Turkmenistan “On Political Parties”.
The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan was formed in December 1991. Today, the Democratic Party as a political party actively participates in the development and implementation of programs of national progress in the areas of politics, law, economy, life and culture.
The Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan was formed in August 2012. This party sets itself the goals of developing a market economy in the country, ensuring the inviolability of property, the deployment of a large scale of entrepreneurship, the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs, the creation of new jobs.
The agrarian party of Turkmenistan was formed in September 2014. The Agrarian Party sets itself the goal of maintaining democratic transformations in the country's agriculture, and further development of agriculture, and rendering assistance to the economic revival of the villages.
Political parties take an active part in the elections held in the country and, in accordance with the Electoral code of Turkmenistan, use the right to nominate candidates, appoint national observers and nominate representatives to the election commissions for the election of the President of Turkmenistan, deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk maslahaty and Gengeshes. This testifies to the strengthening of the role of the political party in society.
To organize the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the authorized body of the legislative power of Turkmenistan, the members of the halk maslahaty being the authorized bodies of state power, as well as the members of the Gengeshes being a local government body, 125 constituencies for the elections to the Mejlis of Turkmenistan were established in the country.In terms of the election of members of the halk maslahaty of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, in each of 40, in all - 240 electoral districts, for the election of members of the halk maslahaty etraps, cities with the rights of etraps - 1200 electoral districts and 5900 electoral districts held in 605 Gengesh. Thus, a total of 7,465 constituencies have been formed for the elections.
In accordance with the election code of Turkmenistan, for the election of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, information on the numbers, names, centers and boundaries of constituencies is published in the newspapers “Turkmenistan”, “Neutral Turkmenistan” and on the site (saylav.gov.tm) of the Central Election Commission. Information on the centers and boundaries of constituencies for the election of members of the halk maslahaty velayats, etraps, towns are brought to the attention of the population by the newspapers of the velayats. Information on the formation of constituencies for the election of members of the Gengeshes, also published in the newspapers of the velayats and brought to the attention of the population. News and information on the preparation of the upcoming elections are systematically posted on the website of the Central Electoral Commission (saylav.gov.tm).
The works connected with the organized holding of the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the members of the halk maslahaty and Gengeshes are organized by the Central Election Commission, the election commissions of the velayats and Ashgabat city, the election commissions of the etraps, towns, districts, gengeshlik, and precinct election commissions. More than 24,000 members of electoral commissions provide organizational work for the conduct of elections. The term of office of all election commissions is 5 years.
The Central Electoral Commission compiled and published 11 guidelines, memos and regulations. Some of them were published in two languages - Turkmen and Russian, some in three languages - Turkmen, Russian, English.
The guidelines are intended for election commissions of different levels, representatives of the media, international and national observers, as well as other interested compatriots.
In the process of organized preparation for elections, various kinds of videos are produced on television, explaining the procedure for voting to the public.
In the country's mass media, news, talks and articles about the preparations for the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk Maslahaty and the Gengeshes are systematically transmitted.
Until today, 16 television broadcasts have been delivered to the public and 28 articles and reports in the newspapers.
Until today, all created in 2602 polling stations, including 364 to Ahal velayat, on the Balkan velayat 272, 523 of Dashoguz velayat, in Lebap province 559, 548 of the Mary velayat, Ashgabat city established 299 polling stations. As well, with diplomatic missions and consulates of Turkmenistan abroad, 39 polling stations have been set up to conduct the voting.
In foreign countries, 23377 voters will vote. As of March 1 2018, the country registered 3.286.138 voters.
In January and March of this year, the specialists of the Central Election Commission together with the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, representatives of the political party and public associations conducted training seminars on the ground with members of the velayat election commissions.
The holding of elections in the conditions of democracy will be under the close eye of the public. To date, 4072 national election observers have been appointed by political parties, public associations and groups of citizens. Including: from the Democratic Party-591; Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs-311; Agrarian Party-392; Trade unions-665; Union of Women-253; Youth organization-525, representatives of groups of citizens-226, from the candidates 1109.
To registered national observers in the terms established by the election code of Turkmenistan, certificates are handed over.
Along with national observers, observers of international organizations such as the United Nations Organization, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Islamic Organization, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Cooperation, as well as international observers of foreign countries, independent observers and representatives of foreign mass media.
In accordance with the Electoral code of Turkmenistan, the nomination of candidates for deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk Maslahaty and Gengeshes by political parties and groups of citizens continued from January 24, 2018 to February 22, 2018.
Registration of candidates was held between February 3, 2018 and February 27, 2018.
The deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan registered 284 candidates, 489 candidates for members of the halk maslahaty of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, 2,570 candidates for membership in the halk maslahaty etraps, and cities 132,155 candidates for membership in the Gengesh. The total number of candidates for all elections was 16558 people.
These figures indicate that 2 and 3 candidates will apply for one place in the March 25 elections. More precisely, for the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan in 91 districts, 2 candidates, 3 candidates in 34 districts, 2 candidates for elections of members of the halk maslahaty of velayats, etraps and cities in 1261 constituencies, 179 districts of 3 candidates, 2 candidates in the election of members of the Gengesh in 4485 districts, 3 candidates in 1415 districts in accordance with democratic principles will compete for the majority of votes.
For the elections of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, only 168 candidates were nominated from the political party, 116 candidates from groups of citizens:
from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan 117,
from the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, 23,
from the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan 28,
from groups of citizens of 116 candidates.
The pre-election campaign of registered candidates started from the day of registration and stopped one day before the election day.
Throughout the history of independent Turkmenistan, elections held on a remarkable spring day differ from previous elections by a large number of registered candidates, holding four elections in one day with the participation of 3 political parties.
All the conditions for holding the voting have been created at the polling stations.
The colors of the ballots for the election of the deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the halk maslahaty of the velayats, members of the halk maslahaty etraps, cities and members of the Gengesh will differ from each other.
Prepared secret voting booths and three varieties of ballot boxes.
Guided by the wise statement of the distinguished President, "Democratic elections are an important step in strengthening the foundations of the democracy of Turkmen society on the path to the revival of the principles of real democracy" elections in our country will be held in accordance with international norms, national legislation and the democratic principles of our ancestors.
Elections conducted in accordance with democratic principles, on the basis of a multi-party system, in the conditions of wide competition are another vivid proof of the creation of all conditions for our citizens to enjoy, their rights to elect and be elected.
(Central Election Commission)