Aibegue has recently written a post on Neweurasia about voting procedures for Kyrgyz living abroad. He shares his experience of voting process during the referendum that took place back in October 2007.

Here is what the Central Election Committee has come up with regarding Kyrgyz citizens living in Russian Federation. On 16 December, on the parliamentary elections, Kyrgyz living in Moscow can now vote on markets. On 20 November, Central Election Committee (CEC) said to AKIpress that it delegated its member Jyldyz Joldosheva and put her in charge of organizing and administering polling stations in big cities of Russia so that Kyrgyz citizens living there can vote. CEC states that:

“Polling stations will be organized in the buildings of Kyrgyz embassies and consulates, and in the areas most densely populated by migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan”.

The mobile ballot boxes will be available around in five biggest markets in Moscow and this will allow Kyrgyz migrant workers not to leave their workplaces and to work right on the market.

However, the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society raises its concern over the legitimacy of such an exercise, which, as they believe, contradicts the Election Code of Kyrgyzstan and makes possible falsification of voting results. Therefore, this is absolutely illegal. The members of local election commissions carrying mobile ballot boxes and going through the market rows does not comply with the standards and norms of the national legislation and international rules. The Coalition demands from the CEC members to abolish setting up additional polling stations outside consulates and embassies arguing that the Election Code of Kyrgyzstan clearly defines that polling stations outside the country are organized at diplomatic missions and consular offices of Kyrgyzstan.

I would personally assume that setting up additional polling stations along market rows could lead to falsification of voting results. Moreover, I doubt that the new method is a good way to increase the turnout.