Uzbekistan Introduces Mixed System for MP Elections
The upcoming elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis in Uzbekistan in October will mark a historic moment as they will be held for the first time based on a majoritarian-proportional electoral system. This new system will see 75 deputies being elected directly through the majoritarian system, where voters will choose specific candidates, while the remaining 75 will be elected through the proportional system by voting for political parties.
A briefing was recently held in Tashkent at the Palace of Symposiums with the participation of representatives from the Central Election Commission. During the briefing, the chairman of the commission, Zayniddin Nizomkhodjayev, shared details about the upcoming elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and local Councils, scheduled to take place on October 27 under the motto “My choice – my prosperous Motherland”.
The elections will involve the selection of 150 deputies of the Legislative Chamber, 65 members of the Senate, 65 deputies of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as deputies of regional, Tashkent, and 208 district (city) Councils. Approximately 30 thousand candidates and around 90 thousand of their authorized representatives are expected to participate in the election process. Over 120 thousand members of election commissions and more than 70 thousand local and foreign observers will also be involved.
A new electoral body system led by the Central Electoral Commission has been implemented for these elections. Political parties are required to ensure that at least 40% of their nominated candidates for deputies are women.
Furthermore, candidates for deputy positions will now only need to receive a relative majority of votes in order to be elected. This means that a candidate who receives more votes than other contenders in the respective constituency will be deemed as elected, eliminating the need for a repeat vote.
These upcoming elections represent a significant step towards a more democratic electoral process in Uzbekistan, allowing for broader participation and representation in the country’s legislative bodies.
