Kazakhstan on Sunday began voting in the first nationwide elections for its new 145-seat unicameral legislature, the Kurultai, marking a major political transition under the country’s new constitutional system.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. More than 10,400 polling stations have been established across the country, while Kazakh citizens abroad can cast ballots at 79 polling stations in 61 countries.

Voting has been suspended at Kazakh diplomatic missions in Iran and Ukraine for security reasons. No polling station was established at the Kazakh Embassy in Ethiopia because there are no registered Kazakh citizens there.

The election follows a sweeping constitutional overhaul that replaced Kazakhstan’s former bicameral parliament, consisting of the Mazhilis and Senate, with a single-chamber Kurultai. The new Constitution entered into force on July 1, while President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev formally scheduled the parliamentary election for Aug. 23.

Seven Parties Compete for 145 Seats

Seven political parties are contesting the 145 seats: Adilet, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baitak, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, Auyl, Ak Zhol and Respublica.

A total of 545 candidates were included on the seven registered party lists, according to Kazakhstan’s election authorities. All 145 seats will be allocated through party-list voting, replacing the previous system that combined proportional party-list elections with single-mandate constituencies.

Parties must secure more than 5% of the vote to enter the new legislature.

The new electoral system is part of a broader political restructuring promoted by the Tokayev administration, which has described the reforms as a national “reset.”

Tokayev Casts His Ballot

President Tokayev cast his ballot at a polling station in Astana on Sunday as voting got underway.

First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Erlan Karin described the election as the beginning of a new phase in the country’s political transformation.

“These elections are not ordinary elections. These elections are truly of historic importance because the next stage of the national reset begins after the adoption of the new Constitution,” Karin said after voting in Astana.

He said the new parliament would provide fresh momentum to Kazakhstan’s political modernization and institutional reforms.

The election is also being closely watched because the new constitutional framework has strengthened presidential powers and opened the possibility of Tokayev seeking another seven-year term. Tokayev, who has been president since 2019, has not confirmed whether he intends to run again.

Turnout Reaches 37% by Noon

Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission reported that 37.05% of registered voters had cast ballots by noon, with 4,670,816 voters having received ballots.

Earlier, turnout stood at 17.96% by 10 a.m., when 2,264,411 voters had received ballots.

Around 12.6 million voters are registered for the election.

Security Tightened Across the Country

Kazakh authorities have placed police forces on heightened alert for election day.

Interior Ministry spokesman Shyngys Alekeshev said all polling stations had been inspected and placed under round-the-clock security.

Authorities reported that the overall situation remained stable, with no serious violations of public order reported.

Prosecutors said eight violations of election legislation had been identified during the campaign period. These included three cases involving unauthorized election-related opinion polling and five cases involving violations of campaigning rules.

A New Political Chapter

The election marks the first test of Kazakhstan’s new constitutional and electoral framework and is expected to shape the country’s political landscape for years to come.

Supporters of the reforms describe the creation of the Kurultai as a step toward modernizing state institutions and increasing political accountability. Critics, however, have raised concerns that the constitutional changes could strengthen the presidency and limit the scope for genuine political competition.

With the vote taking place nationwide and turnout rising sharply during the first hours of polling, attention is now turning to the final participation figures and the composition of Kazakhstan’s first Kurultai under the new constitutional order. (ILKHA)