NURLAN ABDIROV: IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THE 

UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF ONLINE SERVICES TO

 FACILITATE CITIZENS’ VOTING

From August 5 to 7, a delegation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Chairman Nurlan Abdirov, conducted inspection visits to the city of Shymkent and the Turkistan Region.

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission was informed that 10 venues have been prepared in Shymkent for meetings with voters. In addition, political parties have been provided with opportunities to place campaign materials on 57 specially designated information stands.

The accessibility of polling stations in the region for persons with disabilities was discussed by the CEC Chairman with members of the Working Group on Ensuring the Electoral Rights of Persons with Disabilities. During the inspection visits, they, together with members of election commissions, monitored the accessibility and equipment of polling stations and their readiness to provide all necessary conditions for voters with disabilities.

Nurlan Abdirov also addressed participants of training seminars organized by the CEC on preparations for and the conduct of elections of deputies of the Kurultai. It was noted that the main objective of such seminars is to enhance the professional competencies of the leadership and members of territorial election commissions in organizing and conducting elections, ensuring the legal framework of the electoral process, and effectively managing the work of precinct election commissions.

As part of the inspection visits, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman also reviewed the work of a number of polling stations in the Enbekshinsky, Abaysky, Turansky and Al-Farabi districts of the city.

The following day, Nurlan Abdirov began his inspection visit to the Turkistan Region in one of its remote districts. He visited polling station No. 498 in the village of Shamshi Kaldayakov, Otyrar District. He also visited polling stations in the cities of Kentau and Turkistan, where he assessed their level of preparedness and material and technical facilities. He discussed with election commission members the progress of informing rural residents about the upcoming elections and available voting opportunities. He also instructed them to pay particular attention to creating the most comfortable conditions possible for voters, especially elderly people and persons with disabilities.

During his visit to polling station No. 951 in Turkistan, Nurlan Abdirov checked the readiness of online services that will operate on Election Day to assist citizens in exercising their electoral rights.

“On Election Day, a number of online services will be available at polling stations. The first will help members of precinct election commissions verify a citizen’s registered address. This is necessary for including the citizen in the voter list. At the same time, the citizen must submit a corresponding application. The second service will allow citizens without registration to obtain temporary registration at the address of the polling station. Both services are important in helping Kazakhstan citizens exercise their electoral rights. Our common task is to ensure the uninterrupted operation of these services,” - Nurlan Abdirov emphasized.

A training seminar for election commission members was also held in Turkistan, the administrative center of the region. Participants had the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of electoral legislation and its practical application, procedures for organizing the work of precinct election commissions at all stages of the electoral process, voting-day procedures, and the rules for completing electoral documentation. Election commission members also studied and discussed procedures for responding to non-standard and contentious situations, with a focus on effective communication and stress resilience.

In Shymkent and Turkistan, Nurlan Abdirov held meetings with representatives of the city and regional leadership to discuss the readiness of the regions for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai scheduled for August 23, 2026. Particular attention was paid to informing the public about the elections, including how to obtain an absentee voting certificate, find one’s polling station, vote at home, access call centers, and address other relevant issues.

A number of international observers from the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission also attended Nurlan Abdirov’s meetings with members of precinct election commissions, as well as the training seminars and meetings with government authorities in both regions. They asked questions of interest to them, communicated with members of precinct election commissions, and familiarized themselves with the preparations for the elections.

For the elections to the Kurultai, 371 election commissions will operate in the city of Shymkent. The total number of election commission members is 2,881. In the Turkistan Region, 952 precinct election commissions will operate, comprising a total of 6,290 election commission members.