Kurultai elections: What stages are behind and what awaits voters until August 23
Completed Milestones
At this stage, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has completed the key procedures outlined in the schedule. Notably, political parties have nominated and registered their candidate lists. As a result, seven political parties have been cleared to participate in Kazakhstan's elections, fielding a total of 546 candidates.
CEC Data
The distribution of candidates across party lists is as follows:
Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan – 63 candidates;
Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party – 69 candidates;
Adilet Party (which includes the Amanat party) – 186 candidates;
Baytaq Kazakhstan Green Party – 47 candidates;
People's Party of Kazakhstan (NPK) – 72 candidates;
Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP) – 33 candidates.
Respublica Party – 76 candidates.
The parties will compete for 145 mandates in the Kurultai.
Following registration, a draw was held to determine the order of parties on the ballot. CEC Deputy Chairman Mukhtar Erman conducted the draw, placing numbers 1 through 7 into white envelopes on a table.
Representatives of the political parties then took turns selecting an envelope. The number drawn determined the party's position on the ballot for the upcoming Kurultai elections.
Following the draw, the parties will appear on the ballot in the following order:
Adilet Party.
Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP).
Baytaq Kazakh Green Party.
People's Party of Kazakhstan (NPK).
Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party.
Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan.
Respublica.
Election Campaigning Underway
Election campaigning officially began in Kazakhstan on July 23. Until midnight on August 22, parties and candidates are permitted to hold meetings with voters, distribute campaign materials, and present their platforms.
By August 2, regional akims submitted voter lists for each polling station to the precinct election commissions. As of August 3, the voter lists include 12,605,788 people.
Notably, a new sign has already been installed on the former Parliament building: "Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
Photo: Tengrinews.kz
Prohibited Campaign Activities
Political parties and candidates are permitted to post campaign materials on their own websites and social media pages free of charge.
At the same time, requirements for campaign content have been tightened. In addition to existing bans on producing materials outside of Kazakhstan or distributing anonymous content, it is now forbidden to use campaign materials produced for previous election cycles.
The following entities are prohibited from campaigning or distributing any election-related materials:
State bodies, local government bodies, and their officials while performing official duties;Members of the Armed Forces, other troops and military formations, employees of national security agencies, law enforcement officials, and judges;Members of election commissions;
Religious associations.
Broadcasters are also prohibited from airing campaign materials during news or analytical programs. Furthermore, photographing or filming a completed ballot and distributing such images on election day is strictly forbidden.
Candidates who are government officials are prohibited from using their professional or official status to gain an advantage.
Users of online platforms must refrain from publishing campaign materials or other information that deliberately defames the honor, dignity, or business reputation of a candidate or party. Such persons must be given the opportunity to publish a free rebuttal to protect their reputation.
All campaigning is prohibited on election day and the preceding "day of silence." Additionally, the following may not be published:
Public opinion poll results;
Election result forecasts;
Other election-related research or polls supporting specific candidates or parties in the media or on online platforms within five days before the election and on election day itself.
Key Milestones Before Election Day
From August 7,Kazakhstani citizens will be able to check their inclusion on the voter lists at their place of residence. If changes are required, voters may contact their precinct election commission. Such requests will be processed immediately upon receipt.
Voters who will be in a different locality on election day can obtain an absentee certificate to cast their vote at their actual location.
Absentee voting certificates can be obtained starting 15 days before the election until 6:00 PM on the day preceding the vote. The local precinct election commission issues this document upon a voter's written application and presentation of identification. A corresponding note is then made in the voter list.
It should be noted that absentee certificates can be obtained by proxy. Notarization of such a power of attorney is not required.
No later than August 12, precinct commissions will inform citizens of the time and place of voting. If necessary, a special operating schedule may be established for certain precincts by this date.
More than 10,400 polling stations will open across the country. Over 10,600 commissions, involving a total of 71,000 members, are engaged in organizing the elections.
Citizens of Kazakhstan who are abroad on private invitations, official business, or for tourism purposes will be included in the voter lists upon application to a precinct election commission and presentation of a valid Kazakhstan passport.
August 17 marks the deadline for the accreditation of observers from foreign states and international organizations. As of August 3, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 251 observers from foreign states and international organizations. Observer data will be updated as further accreditation requests are received.
The final stage of preparation will be the distribution of ballots to precinct commissions from August 20 to 22.
The ballot is a double-sided, A4-format blue sheet. The front features the coat of arms of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the title of the ballot. The reverse side lists the political parties in the order determined by drawing lots, followed by an "Against All" option. Voters must place a mark in the empty box to the right of their chosen option.
Image provided by the CEC
August 22 has been declared a "Day of Silence," during which all campaigning is prohibited.
Election Day and Results
Voting for the Kurultai deputies will take place on August 23. According to the schedule, polling stations will be open from 07:00 to 20:00, unless specific territorial commissions provide otherwise for the convenience of citizens.
Once the polls close, the vote count will begin. Exit poll results—surveys conducted immediately after voting to determine how constituents voted—will be published first.
The CEC has registered six applications to conduct exit polls and public opinion surveys for the Kurultai elections:
Institute of Eurasian Integration;
DATAmetrics Consulting and Research Company;
Institute for Comprehensive Social Research – Astana (SOCIS-A);
Institute of Public Policy;
Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development;
"Institute of Democracy" Research Association.
The Central Election Commission will then receive data from territorial and precinct commissions to determine voter turnout and preliminary election results. According to current legislation, the counting process must not exceed 12 hours from its commencement.
The final election results will be published no later than 10 days after the election date.
Photo © Tengrinews.kz
Kurultai elections
This will be the tenth parliamentary election in Kazakhstan since 1991 and the first for the Kurultai, established under the new Constitution adopted in the 2026 constitutional referendum. To date, the Mazhilis and Senate have ceased operations, and their deputies have been dissolved.
A new legislative body, the Kurultai.
The first elections for Kurultai deputies will be held on August 23. It will consist of 145 deputies elected for five-year terms. They will independently elect the Speaker of Parliament and three Deputy Speakers.
The current government will resign following the formation of the Kurultai.
Earlier, details were released regarding the appearance of the ballot for the elections to the unicameral Parliament, the Kurultai.
Kazakhstani citizens were also reminded of the prohibition on publishing images of completed ballots on election day. Violating this rule carries a fine of up to 130,000 tenge.