INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF THE PARLIAMENT OF REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Legislative basis for conduct of elections for Members of Senate is Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan

"On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan" and a number of regulations issued by Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In accordance with these legislative acts Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan consists of two Chambers: Senate and Majilis acting on a regular basis. Senate consists of Members of Senate with two members elected from every region, city of national significance (Almaty) and capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Astana). Total number of members - 39. Members of the Senate are elected at the joint meeting of members of all representative bodies (maslikhats) of regions, city of national importance and capital of Republic (32 Members of the Senate). President of Republic appoints seven members.

In order to be elected to the office of Senator, a citizen must satisfy the following requirements: posses citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan for no less than five years; be over thirty five years of age; to have a diploma of higher education and job experience of no less than five years; constantly residing at the territory of corresponding region, city of national significance or capital of the Republic no less than three years. In accordance with current legislation citizen acknowledged by court as disabled or imprisoned by court verdict can not be elected as a Member of Parliament.

Following persons are also ineligible for registration as a parliamentary candidate:

1. Person who have been administered punishment for corruption as administrative punishment in the course of a year;
2. Person who in the course of year was incurred a penalty for premeditated offence;
3. Person who was convicted and his conviction not expunged in order determined by law.

There is a special procedure for election of Members of the Senate. Nomination of candidates to the office of Senator shall commence at sessions of the maslikhats of oblasts, municipal (cities of national significance, the capital of the Republic), regions and municipalities. Several maslikhats may jointly nominate a single candidate. A decision to nominate a candidate to the office of Senator shall be made by majority vote of all members of the relevant maslikhat. Within three days after its adoption, such decision must be promulgated to the nominee.

People's movements and political parties can not nominate candidates to the office of Senator. Private citizens shall nominate themselves as senatorial candidates by filing a written letter of intent to run for the office of Senator in a given geopolitical subdivision with the relevant territorial electoral commission They also shall have a protocol from the electoral commission of the oblast, city of national significance, or the capital of the Republic, as the case may be, certifying the results of verification of electors' signatures in support of the candidate (a senatorial candidate must be supported by at least ten percent of the total number of electors representing, as appropriate, all the maslikhats of his oblast, or the maslikhat of his city of national significance, or the maslikhat of the capital of the Republic, but no less that 50% of votes of electors representing one maslikhat. Each elector shall have the right to cast his vote in favor of only one senatorial candidate.), background information on the candidate; a medical certificate of mental health, a document evidencing the candidate's payment of the election deposit. Election deposit has to be made from personal means of candidate. It should equal minimal salary times 25 - at this time minimal salary equals $140. Election deposit is returned to candidate if no less than 7% of electors voted for him.

As it has been already noted, senatorial elections shall be held at joint meetings of the electors from members of all maslikhats within an oblast; the maslikhat of a city of national significance; or the maslikhat of the capital of the Republic. A joint meeting shall be duly constituted if more than fifty percent of the total number of members of the maslikhats are present. Voting in senatorial elections at a joint meeting shall be deemed valid if more than fifty percent of all electors present have participated in the voting.

The elected candidates shall be those who:

Garnered more than fifty percent of the votes of electors participating in first-round voting; or garnered the greatest vote among candidates running in repeat voting; or garnered more than fifty percent of the votes of electors participating in repeat voting, if running unopposed.

In whole, senatorial elections are not a matter of interest for electors. There are a number of reasons for that. First of all during the elections to maslikhats in 1994 elections were conducted in accordance with Constitution of 1993, when Parliament consisted of just one Chamber. Consequently at that time while electing members of maslikhats voters did not know that these members would be granted a right to elect Senators. Secondly, elections of members of maslikhats in 1994 were conducted in accordance with traditional Soviet scheme. As a result there is no connection between members of maslickhats and their voters. Despite the fact that elections of Senators are scheduled for September 17, 1999 there is no evidence of any campaign activity. There is no information on candidates, their platforms, no posters or propaganda. Media also does not provide any information on senatorial candidates. Members of maslikhats also do not have any practice of holding meetings with voters in order to know their opinion on different candidates and programs.