The provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Electoral Code, and other normative legal acts governing elections and referendums, as well as adherence to international electoral standards, are widely implemented in practice in our country. This contributes to the strengthening of democratic values and universally recognized principles, and enhances the international prestige of Uzbekistan. This has been particularly evident in the successful conduct of the Parliamentary elections (2019), the Presidential elections (2021), and the preparation and holding of the 2023 Referendum. The consistent trend of all elections and referendums held in independent Uzbekistan shows a growing interest and active involvement of citizens in socio-political processes.
The organization and conduct of these significant political processes — Presidential elections, elections to the Oliy Majlis, and referendums — are based on the principles of independence, legality, collegiality, transparency, and fairness. These are successfully ensured by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Key milestones in the development of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan:
April 30, 1998 — The Law “On the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan” No. 613-I was adopted. This law defined the structure and continuous activities of the CEC, its principles and powers, as well as rules concerning its Secretariat and regulations.
September 9, 1998 — The Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 387 on the organization of the CEC’s activities.
September 12, 1998 — The first organizational meeting of the permanent CEC was held. Issues regarding the election of the Deputy Chair, Secretary, and three full-time members were addressed.
January 7, 1999 — At a CEC meeting, based on the President’s recommendation, Dr. Najmiddin Komilov was elected Chair of the CEC.
August 30, 2001 — The Law “On the Referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan” No. 265-II was adopted in a new edition.
September 23, 2016 — The CEC adopted a resolution allowing four political parties to participate in the 2016 Presidential elections.
August 15, 2017 — The Cabinet of Ministers issued Resolution No. 630 approving the procedure for forming and maintaining the Unified Electronic Voter Register.
October 4, 2018 — Presidential Decree No. PQ-3961 was adopted to introduce modern ICT into the electoral process.
November 6, 2018 — Presidential Decree No. PQ-4004 on improving the CEC’s operations was adopted. The decree outlines 7 key directions:
liberalizing electoral laws;
increasing commission efficiency;
introducing modern ICT;
enhancing the training of commission members;
strengthening public oversight;
improving material and technical support;
unifying and improving election legislation.
An Educational Center under the CEC was established, tasked with training commission members, monitoring the electoral process, conducting research, and preparing methodological materials.
June 25, 2019 — The Electoral Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan was adopted. It consolidated several separate laws and regulations into one comprehensive code, eliminating legal inconsistencies. About 30 new rules were included that had not previously been applied in the national electoral system.
The Electoral Code, initiated by the President and embodying the principle “The interests of the individual are above all”, marked a new, highly effective stage in electoral reform in Uzbekistan.
