Kazakhstan Elects Unicameral Parliament for First Time in 32 Years

Kazakhstan is transitioning to a unicameral parliament, the Kurultai, for the first time in over three decades. This marks a significant shift from the country's long-standing bicameral system. On August 23, 2026, citizens will cast their votes to elect 145 deputies who will serve a five-year term. The ballot includes seven political parties, alongside an option to vote "against all."

Notably, all political organizations vying for seats in the new parliament have declared their support for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's political agenda. The election's validity hinges on a minimum turnout of more than 50% of eligible voters. With 12,605,788 registered voters, at least 6.3 million citizens must participate for the election to be considered legitimate.

Vote counting is scheduled to commence immediately after polling stations close at 8:00 PM. The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan will then convene to finalize the results, which will be officially published in the media. The law mandates that the final outcomes must be announced no later than August 30, 2026. Furthermore, within two months of the Kurultai's first session, the president is expected to appoint a vice president with parliamentary consent, reinstating a position that was abolished in 1996 and revived by the new constitution.