In a significant step toward the Presidential elections scheduled for July 9, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan approved the form and text of the ballot at a meeting on June 9. The decision was taken keeping in mind the democratic ideals and the pursuit of a free and fair election process.

The four contenders for the presidential elections will be listed alphabetically on the ballot paper, following the sequence of the Uzbek alphabet based on the Latin script. This method will also apply to the protocols concerning the results of vote counting at the polling stations and the determination of the final election results. This structured approach aims to enhance transparency and accessibility for the electorate.

Another prominent issue discussed during the meeting was video broadcasting of the electoral process at select polling stations. In an endeavor to uphold the integrity of the election process, the CEC plans to conduct video broadcasting from no more than two sites in each district and city of the country. This video monitoring mechanism follows a similar approach used in the recent referendum on the new version of the Constitution held on April 30, where broadcasts were carried out from two polling stations in all districts and cities.

Adding to the innovative efforts for streamlining the electoral process, some polling stations in Tashkent, the nation’s capital, will operate a biometric voter identification system in pilot mode. This state-of-the-art system enables quick checks and confirms the identity of the voter and their presence or absence in the voter list of the polling station. It was first implemented in the recent constitutional referendum, marking a significant leap in the utilization of technology in the electoral process.

The Central Election Commission’s measures underline the country’s commitment to facilitating an organized, transparent, and efficient electoral process. These technological advancements promise a new era of election management in Uzbekistan, making the voting process more secure and efficient while ensuring the upholding of democratic values.