Kazakhstan Opens More Than 10,000 Polling Stations for First Kurultai Election

Kazakhstan launched its inaugural Kurultai election on August 23, opening 10,363 polling stations across the nation. The Central Election Commission reported that voting commenced at 7 a.m. Astana time, with some stations opening an hour earlier. A total of 12,605,788 citizens are listed to vote, and 17,132 absentee certificates have been issued, enabling citizens to cast ballots away from their registered locations.

International participation is facilitated through 79 polling stations set up in diplomatic and consular offices in 61 countries, catering to Kazakh citizens living abroad. By 8 a.m. Astana time, 26 of these stations had opened, with Kazakh citizens in Tokyo and Seoul being the first to cast their votes. As of that time, 228 voters abroad had participated.

Election rules, as reminded by CEC member Lazzat Suyindik, prohibit the publication of opinion polls and forecasts within five days of election day and on election day itself. While exit polls are permitted under specific conditions, photographing or distributing images of completed ballots is forbidden on election day. Voters are allowed to take photos at polling stations, provided they do not reveal their vote choice.

This election marks a significant step in Kazakhstan's parliamentary evolution, with citizens electing 145 members to the new unicameral Parliament, the Kurultai, via proportional representation. Seven political parties are competing, needing at least 5 percent of the vote to enter the legislature. A total of 777 foreign observers from 42 countries and 13 international organizations are accredited to monitor the proceedings.

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Under Kazakhstan’s election legislation, results of public opinion polls, forecasts of election results and other election-related research cannot be published during the five days preceding election day or on election day itself.