The draft law was discussed at the sessions of the committees and factions of political parties, as well as MPs Group of Ecologic Movement of Uzbekistan at the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

MPs noted that the document is another step in gradual liberalization of election system. The document is directed at further democratization of election system, ensure transparency and openness of its processes, improving efficiency of pre-election campaign and election commissions.

The draft law was developed based on experience of the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, South Korea, Japan and others, international principles of elections.

In particular, “pre-election agitation” is determined as activity in election campaign and directed at motivating to vote for candidate or political party. MPs noted that this is fully corresponds to laws of the most of developed democratic states.

Uzbek MPs also underlined that the draft law regulates issues of state information support of elections and agitation activity, conducting pre-election agitation through mass media. The draft law say that all candidates and political parties, participating in elections, will have equal access to state mass media through providing them equal volume of broadcasting time and print area.

The draft law also firmly regulates issues of pre-election campaign in non-state media. MPs noted that use of non-state media in election campaigns will ensure transparency and openness of election campaigns.

The document said that the payment and terms for publishing agitation materials, set by non-state mass media, should be equal for all.

MPs said that the draft law also sets norms, which ban agitation at election days and a day before elections. The document also bans to publish results of polls, exit-polls, forecasts and researches on elections on election day and three days before elections.

The draft document also regulates issues on holding preschedule voting. The preschedule voting starts 10 days before election day and ends on election day. Local election commissions determine the dates of preschedule elections.

The draft law also sets opportunity to form election points in jails. MPs said that this will ensure implementation election right of citizens.

After the discussions, the MPs approved a concept of the draft law and passed it on first reading. MPs entrusted corresponding committee to prepare the draft law for second reading.