On the rights of observers at the referendum

On the participation of international observers in the preparation and conduct of the referendum, a conversation with a permanent member of the Central Election Commission Gulnoza Rakhimova.
- Who, in accordance with the requirements of national legislation, as an observer has the right to participate in the observation of the referendum? What is the procedure for inviting international observers?
- Observers from political parties, self-government bodies and citizens' initiative groups, representatives of the mass media, observers from other States and international organizations have the right to be present at all events on the preparation and conduct of the referendum, as well as at polling places on the day of the referendum and during the counting of votes. This is determined by the Law “On the Referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan". At the same time, the Regulation on observers from foreign countries and international organizations participating in the referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan, approved by the Central Election Commission on July 13, 2022, defines the procedure for their activities.
The invitation of international observers to the referendum complies with the rules of the electoral process. That is, after the announcement of the decision to call a referendum, the CEC, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, sends invitations to electoral bodies of foreign countries and international organizations. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on its own initiative or at the suggestion of State authorities, ministries, departments, research institutes, other organizations and institutions, may invite foreign (international) observers to the referendum.
Also, foreign states and international organizations, if they wish to participate in the referendum through their observers, can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Foreign States and international organizations submit relevant documents at least ten days before the referendum.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submits documents of observers from foreign states and international organizations to the CEC in the form of an appendix. The CEC takes a decision on the accreditation of foreign (international) observers within five days. The list of accredited international observers is published on the official website of the CEC.
Currently, representatives of the limited mission to monitor the upcoming referendum in our country from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) have been accredited and started working. The mission will assess the compliance of the referendum with OSCE commitments, other international standards of democratic elections and documents of national legislation. At the same time, the mission will offer recommendations for improving the conduct of the referendum.
- What are the rights of observers?
- Our legislation defines the rights of participation of the institute of observers in this important political process. Observers have the right to attend meetings of the district and precinct commissions for the referendum, to observe the progress of preparatory work, the placement of booths or rooms for secret voting and the sealing of ballot boxes, the registration of citizens, the issuance of voting ballots.
Observers can also be present at the counting of votes after the voting, the preparation of the protocol of the precinct commission for the referendum on the results of the vote. Request and receive copies of the voting results protocols certified by the relevant referendum commission. To report their observations to the higher commission for the conduct of the referendum, if there are grounds to believe that violations of the law were committed at the referendum.
- What is forbidden to observers?
- Yes, the legislation also defines prohibitions for observers. In particular, they are prohibited from being in the voting booth or voting room when the voter makes his marks on the ballot, to influence the voters, to distribute any campaign materials or literature. It is also prohibited to ask the voters how they voted, to provide them with any assistance when making notes on the ballot papers, to interfere in the activities of the precinct commission for the referendum, including when sealing the ballot boxes, opening them, counting votes.