According to the training concept elaborated by the LEPL Centre for Electoral Systems Developmnt, Reforms and Training (Training Centre), for April 29, 2023 Extraordinary and By-Elections, members of election commissions passed intensive training program.

Considering the procedural specifics of voting at the polling stations, according to the profile training program developed by the training center:

• members of 117 Precinct Election Commissions (PEC) underwent trainings regarding the procedures for conducting polling using electronic means (three stages);
• members of 47 PECs received detailed instructions on the regulations for polling without using electronic means (three stages);
• members of the PEC created in the penitentiary institution of the Special Penitentiary Service have undergone training on relevant procedural issues (one stage).

Within the framework of the training program, the PECs’ members got acquainted in detail with the practical aspects of the service to be provided to the voters during the polling process. Issues related to the competence of the head officials of election commissions and the technique of performance of functions by other members of the commission during the voting process were stressed. training program, among them, included a component of developing practical skills for drawing up a summary protocol of voting results.

As a novelty, it should be noted that for election commissions, where polling will be held using electronic technologies, the training program at all stages provided the modeling of the operation of voter verification machines and special electronic vote counting machines, as well as synchronous training of commission members.

65 trainers trained by the Training Center provided a total of 284 training sessions, including:

• 206 training sessions - for PECs, where polling will be held using electronic technologies;
• 78 training sessions - for PECs, where polling will be held without the use of electronic technologies.

According to the data of the PECs’ members attendance at the trainings, the statistics are presented on the following links:

• I stage - intended for the PECs’ head officials;
• II stage - intended for the PECs’ full composition;
• Additional stage - intended for the changed (new) members of election commissions and those members who could not attend the II stage trainings;
• III stage - intended for the PECs’ head officials;
• Training stage - intended for the PECs’ members created in the penitentiary institution of the Special Penitentiary Service.

In the period of April 18-22, the Training Centre gave detailed instructions to the members of all 10 District Election Commissions (DEC), in whose operational territory Extraordinary/By-Elections are held, on the activities to be carried out within the mandate of the DEC, and on the functioning of the electronic devices used in the polling process. As part of the information campaign on technological innovations, it should be noted, that the Training Centre also held information meetings with the members of 63 DECs (March 27-April 7).

In order to inform the voters and stakeholders about the polling procedures, as well as for the purposes of promoting the effective conduct of activities by the members of the DECs/PECs, the Training Centre, in cooperation with the CEC, has developed various informational and educational materials, which are available at the link.

Integrating electronic technologies into the polling is a complex process. Informational-educational programs implemented by the Election Administration and the Training Centre are aimed at promoting the transformation of voters' behavior, raising the electoral awareness of stakeholders and developing the professional skills of administrators providing electoral services.