Inspections of polling stations are
continuing in Astana to assess their readiness for the upcoming Kurultai
elections. Particular attention is being paid to ensuring that the voting
process is as accessible and convenient as possible for all citizens, including
people with disabilities. Monitoring is being
carried out by a working group comprising representatives of the central and territorial
election commissions, together with public organizations. The team is assessing
both the technical readiness of polling stations as well as their compliance
with accessibility standards. Special attention is being given to
the availability of ramps, handrails, tactile guidance systems, special voting
booths, and other technical tools that enable voters with visual and hearing
impairments to cast their ballots independently. According to members of the
working group, the inspections help identify and eliminate any shortcomings in
advance, ensuring that every voter can easily exercise their constitutional
right on election day.
«According to the guidelines, every polling station must be equipped with a computer and headphones. Each computer should have a program developed by the Central Election Commission. For example, people who cannot read Braille can use headphones and listen to information about the order in which parties appear before casting their vote. The key thing is to make sure the button at the entrance is functioning properly. At the moment, we can see that the buttons are working, and a security officer comes out to check whether any assistance is needed,» noted Yelena Shvetsova, Executive Director of the Public Foundation «Erkindik Qanaty».
Notably, Astana has 438 polling
stations, with over one million registered voters, including nearly 7,000
people with special needs.
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