Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to be Held Today Today, 9016 polling stations at all 14 electoral districts for the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan will be open at 6 am.

The Presidential election will be another important stage in the further democratization of the society, as well as renewal and modernization of the country. The future development of our country, the pace of large-scale transformations in the socio-political, economic and other spheres depend on the choice that will make each voter.

During the years of independence, Uzbekistan has accumulated broad experience of ensuring the conduct of genuinely democratic elections that meet international electoral standards. Effective legislative, legal and regulatory framework for elections has been formed. Electoral rights of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, laws on Guarantees of electoral rights of citizens, on Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other legislative acts.

However, continuous improvement of electoral legislation aimed at further improvement of national practices for the organization and conduct of elections being implemented. Thus, in accordance with the amendments to the article 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the legal guarantees of independence of the Central Election Commission strengthened as a constitutional body responsible for the organization and conduct of elections, the basic principles of its activities – independence, legitimacy, collective nature, openness and justice.

According to the article 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Law on elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, elections shall be held on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. The preparation for this important socio-political event held pursuant to the requirements of the national electoral legislation.

In this election, 20 million 798 thousand 52 citizens of our country entered in the lists of voters, more than 10 million of them are young people under the age of 30 years.

In the framework of the Program of measures for the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the election commissions of all levels have conducted a lot of work aimed at ensuring the voting rights of citizens. All polling stations are provided with the necessary means of communication, computer and office equipment, legal literature. The lists of voters posted up for general information. Measures also were taken for the organization of voting at the place of residence for the citizens who are not able to come to the polling station.

In the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan registered four candidates – Hotamjon Ketmonov from the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Akmal Saidov from the Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov from the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of Uzbekistan – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP) and Narimon Umarov from the Social-democratic Party of Uzbekistan Adolat (Justice).

In accordance with the laws, presidential candidates and nominating political parties were given ample and equal rights in conducting the election campaign, meetings with voters, informing the public of their electoral programmes, including the use of media for this.

A special attention during the campaigns was given to transparency and openness, an important role in which play an institution of observers and the media. The Central Election Commission registered about 300 observers from Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and five international organizations – the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (ODIHR OSCE), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Shanghai Cooperation Organization, World Association of electoral bodies and Organization of the Islamic Cooperation. Leaders and members of national parliaments and electoral authorities, representatives of public organizations and the media, scientists and politicians are among the observers.

Including OSCE ODIHR, CIS Executive Committee, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, World Association of electoral bodies and Organization of the Islamic Cooperation are observing the elections. More than 340 representatives of the local and foreign media accredited by the Central Election Commission are participating in the coverage of the election process.

The electoral process will be widely reported by 430 representatives accredited by the CEC, as well as more than 550 representatives of domestic and foreign media accredited by the district election commissions. All the activities of election commissions, including the meetings of the CEC were conducted openly, with the participation of journalists. The republican press-centre for election coverage provides their operational information. There will be briefings on the progress and preliminary results of the voting.