23 August sees Kazakhstanis at home and abroad head to the polls for the first elections to the new unicameral Kurultai.
According to Astana Times, and the Central Election Commission (CEC), more than 10,000 polling stations are open, some of which opened at 6:00 a.m., depending on the decision of the relevant election commission. Others began their crucial day’s work at 07:00 a.m.
There are also 79 stations in 61 foreign countries with 11,402 foreign-based Kazakhstanis registered to cast their votes there. Tokyo and Seoul were the first to open, meaning that the first Kurultai votes were possibly cast as early as 3:00 a.m. Astana time.
As many as 12,605,788 citizens have the right to vote in these milestone elections, and according to various polls conducted in the run-up to the 23 August, between 70 – 75% of them intend to use this democratic right. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has urged people to do so in an address to the people.
“Participation in elections is the ultimate act of the people’s will, an expression of civic responsibility, and a shared commitment to the fate of the Fatherland. Millions of people around the world are fighting for their right to vote,” he noted.
Seven political parties are contesting the election, each needing no less than 5% of the vote to secure representation in Kurultai.
A total of 777 foreign representative from 42 countries are present to act as official observers.
CEC member Lazzat Suyindik explained some of the rules necessary to ensure the integrity of the democratic process, including the restrictions on the publication of election-related opinion polls and forecasts. As per Astana Times:
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. Exit polls may be conducted on election day only outside polling station premises and by organisations that have notified the CEC in advance.
145 members of the Kurultai will be elected using proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency.
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