Local Council Elections Budgeted at Nearly Half a Billion Soms
The Central Commission for Elections and Referendums of Kyrgyzstan (CEC) has approved the budget for the upcoming elections of local council deputies, set to take place on November 17. The estimated cost for these elections is 495,718.4 million soms, which includes various expenses related to organizing the electoral process.
Out of this total amount, 201,880.6 million soms are earmarked for centralized expenses involved in organizing the elections, such as information dissemination, commission training, communication services, printing materials, and transportation of election equipment. The remaining 293,837.8 million soms will be used to support the functioning of 56 territorial election commissions and 2,439 precinct election commissions across the country.
As of September 23, the preliminary data shows that there are 4,114,931 registered voters in the republic. This translates to an estimated expense of 120.46 soms per voter for the upcoming elections.
To ensure transparency and financial accountability in the election financing process, the CEC will utilize the automated information system “Centralized Accounting”. Financial support for members of election commissions and employees of the territorial and precinct election commissions will be conducted through non-cash transactions via the banking institutions RSK Bank OJSC and Aiyl Bank OJSC.
On September 6, a presidential decree was issued for the dissolution of at least 484 local councils, with elections scheduled for deputies of 249 local councils on November 17. This move is aimed at revitalizing the local governance system and promoting democratic practices within the country.
