CEC manages to hold safe elections under the COVID-19 pandemic

November 17, 2020

Voters keeping social distance while waiting in a line. Photo: UNDP Kyrgyzstan

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenge for many areas of public services, and recent parliamentary elections held in October 4, 2020 were no exception. In the light of a very high public concern, caused by the announcement of holding the parliamentary elections during the first wave peak this summer, CEC had a very important task ahead of holding the elections – to prevent further proliferation of COVID-19 caused by the parliamentary elections.

With the support of UNDP in Kyrgyz Republic, CEC has mobilized protective equipment to meet sanitary norms at all stages of the electoral process, ensuring all participants can perform their functions without fear of infection. This was made possible thanks to 2,480 of Infrared non-contact thermometers, 3 million pairs of plastic and nitrile gloves, 123 920 of N95 masks, 1 million single use face masks, 5000 PPE (protective robes), 6,400 alcohol wipes, 4,500 items of cleaning water were provided as part of the Electoral Support of  the UNDP’s Kyrgyzstan Electoral Support Programme 2020-2021”, with the support from the Government of Japan. 

Voters were provided with disposable single use masks and gloves in the polling stations. Photo: UNDP Kyrgyzstan

Additionally, carefully developed safety protocols by UNDP allowed CEC to train the members of the 2,475 polling stations throughout the country on measures of protection, sanitary and epidemiological safety. As a result, CEC managed to hold the elections without having adverse consequences on the epidemiological situation in the country.

The Electoral Assistance Program in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2020-2021 is implemented by the UNDP in Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with the CEC with the financial support from Japan, Germany and Switzerland and aims to assist the Central Election Commission inholding transparent, fair and inclusive elections in 2020-2021.