SUBMISSION OF VOTER LISTS FOR THE KURULTAI DEPUTY 

ELECTIONS HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Today in Astana, the 11th meeting of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held under the chairmanship of Nurlan Abdirov as part of the election campaign for the election of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

The meeting was attended by international observers from the CIS and the OSCE/ODIHR missions, representatives of political parties, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, and the media. In addition, chairpersons and members of the territorial election commissions of the capital, the regions, and the cities of republican significance, as well as heads of the regional akims’ offices, joined the meeting via videoconference.

In accordance with the agenda, the following issues were considered:

1. On the submission of voter lists to election commissions for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for 23 August 2026; 

2. On absentee voting certificates for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for 23 August 2026; 

3. On the operation of online services during the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for 23 August 2026; 

4. On ballot papers for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for 23 August 2026; 

5. On the accreditation of observers from foreign states and international organizations for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for 23 August 2026. 

Opening the meeting, CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov recalled that the compilation of voter lists is one of the most important stages of the electoral process. The exercise of citizens’ constitutional voting rights is based on the voter lists. In this regard, at previous CEC meetings, local executive bodies had been instructed to widely inform citizens about their inclusion in the voter lists and the opportunity to verify and update their personal information.

“In accordance with the Constitutional Law, on 2 August the regional akims submitted voter lists for each polling station to the precinct election commissions. Electronic versions of the voter lists were also transferred to the relevant territorial election commissions. Thus, the work on this legally established stage has been completed in full. The next task is to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the voter lists, promptly process amendments requested by citizens, and keep the lists up to date. It is also important to continue systematic voter information efforts right up to Election Day,” - Nurlan Abdirov noted.

At the meeting, heads of the regional akims’ offices reported on the progress of this work in their respective regions. In particular, they provided updates on the compilation of voter lists, including for newly established polling stations at organizations with continuous production cycles and in rotational workers’ settlements. They also reported on the transfer of voter lists to precinct election commissions, voter information efforts, the operation of call centers, and other related issues. A consolidated report was presented by CEC member Azamat Aimanakumov.

“A total of 12,605,788 voters have been included in the voter lists nationwide. Since the start of the election campaign, 221 call centers have been operating across the country. They have received 6,080 inquiries. Information about the call centers is available on the website of the Central Election Commission,” - Azamat Aimanakumov informed the meeting.

Special attention was also given at the meeting to the training of precinct election commission members. CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov emphasized that, beginning this week, members of the Central Election Commission are conducting inspection visits to the regions. They will visit all regions and cities of republican significance to assess the readiness of election infrastructure for the upcoming elections.

“As of today, precinct election commissions have officially begun their work. More than 10,400 polling stations have opened. More than 10,600 election commissions, comprising a total of 71,000 members, will be involved in administering the elections. From 4 to 17 August, members of the Central Election Commission and staff of the CEC Office will carry out inspection visits to all 20 regions of the country. These visits will assess the readiness of polling stations, their material and technical equipment, voter information activities, and the operation of call centers. In addition, particular attention will be paid to the work of territorial election commissions, including the progress of training for election commission members,” - Nurlan Abdirov stressed.

The CEC Chairman also reminded participants that, beginning on 7 August, every voter will have the opportunity to verify their information on the voter list. If any changes are required, voters may apply to their precinct election commission. Such requests will be reviewed immediately on the day they are submitted.

Speaking on the second item of the agenda, CEC member Azamat Aimanakumov outlined the measures being taken to ensure citizens can obtain absentee voting certificates. Under the Constitutional Law “On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan,” voters who change their place of stay are entitled to vote using an absentee voting certificate. This means that if a voter will be in another locality on Election Day, they may obtain an absentee certificate in order to vote at their actual location.

An absentee voting certificate may be obtained starting 15 days before Election Day until 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding the election. The precinct election commission issues the certificate upon the voter’s written application and presentation of an identity document. A corresponding note is then entered in the voter list.

“Citizens may obtain an absentee voting certificate from the precinct election commission at their place of permanent registration from 7 August until 6:00 p.m. on 22 August. It is important to note that absentee voting certificates are not issued to voters wishing to vote at another polling station within the same locality. Lost absentee voting certificates are not replaced, and duplicate certificates are not issued,” - Azamat Aimanakumov noted.

It was also noted that an absentee voting certificate may be obtained through an authorized representative under a power of attorney. Such a power of attorney does not require notarization.

The meeting participants also discussed the operation of online services designed to help citizens vote. In particular, Deputy CEC Chairman Mukhtar Yerman explained that these services will enable members of precinct election commissions to verify a citizen’s registered address, which is necessary for including them in the voter list. To do so, the citizen must submit a written application. A second online service presented at the meeting will allow citizens who do not have a registered address to obtain temporary registration at the address of their polling station. Both services are intended to help Kazakhstan citizens exercise their electoral rights.

“Members of precinct election commissions who have access to the service through the eGov portal will, upon receiving a citizen’s written application, be able to obtain information about the citizen’s place of permanent registration. If the information confirms that the applicant’s permanent residence falls within the boundaries of the relevant polling station, the commission will decide to include the applicant in the voter list. This service will be available at 5,106 polling stations. In addition, to ensure the electoral rights of citizens who have been deregistered from their place of residence and were not previously included in the voter lists, temporary registration at the address of the polling station will be permitted on Election Day,” - Mukhtar Yerman informed the meeting.

First Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Rostislav Konyashkin spoke about the control mechanisms in place and the safeguards preventing multiple voter registrations. It was noted that these projects are being implemented jointly by the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

The CEC meeting also provided information on the appearance of the ballot papers, the number to be printed, and when they will be delivered to polling stations.

CEC member Mikhail Bortnik noted that, in accordance with the law, the Central Election Commission determines the form and text of the ballot papers, the procedure for their production, and their level of security protection. In addition, the CEC is responsible for the production of ballot papers and their delivery to territorial election commissions. Delivery of ballot papers to precinct election commissions will take place no earlier than 3 days and no later than 1 day before Election Day.

“The ballot paper will be double-sided and in A4 format. The colour will be light blue. The first side will feature the State Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the title of the ballot paper. The second side will contain the names of political parties in the order determined by the drawing of lots held on 23 July 2026, as well as the line ‘Against all’. Proposals have been prepared to establish the level of ballot paper security protection, including printing protection methods applied through offset printing, colour, printing font, and other elements. Nationwide, 12,605,788 voters have been included in the voter lists. Ballot papers are produced in a quantity equal to the number of voters in the electoral district, with a reserve of 1% of the total number of voters in the electoral district. Therefore, a total of 12,731,847 ballot papers will be produced,” - CEC member Mikhail Bortnik informed.

The CEC noted today the high level of interest in the Kurultai elections among international observers from European countries and CIS states. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman during his speech at the Commission’s meeting. He informed that the CEC had additionally received applications for the accreditation of 155 observers from nine foreign states and four international organizations.

“As of 3 August 2026, the Central Election Commission received, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, applications for the accreditation of 155 observers from nine foreign states and four international organizations. These include 86 observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 22 candidates from the CIS Observation Mission, 23 observers from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, and 6 candidates from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. Among foreign states: 3 observers from the Russian Federation; 2 observers each from the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and Romania; and 1 candidate from Ukraine,” - Mukhtar Yerman informed.

It should be noted that these missions include 74 members of parliament representing 29 countries, including Austria, Azerbaijan, Albania, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Germany, Spain, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Finland, France, Croatia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.

In addition, among the delegations accredited by the CEC, 12 represent the central election bodies of foreign states. Seven of these delegations will be headed by chairpertsons of central election commissions from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Pakistan, and Russia. The heads of the central election bodies of Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan have also confirmed their participation in election observation.

Thus, as of today, the CEC has accredited 251 observers from foreign states and international organizations. Information on observers will be updated as additional accreditation proposals are received.

Following the meeting, members of the Central Election Commission adopted the relevant resolutions. CEC members also answered journalists’ questions during the traditional media briefing.