Nurlan Abdirov Inspected Polling Stations in the Karaganda Region

Today, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Abdirov visited the Karaganda Region as part of an inspection trip to review preparations for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for August 23, 2026.

Currently, 639 polling stations are operating in the region, with 4,331 members of precinct election commissions working at them. The number of registered voters is approximately 760,000.

During his visit, the CEC Chairman inspected polling stations No. 641 and No. 642, which were established at the production facilities of Qarmet JSC in the city of Temirtau. The establishment of such polling stations directly at industrial sites became possible due to amendments introduced to the Constitutional Law “On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

“Citizens’ participation in elections is one of the most important constitutional rights. In this regard, the state consistently and systematically takes the necessary measures to ensure its full and unhindered realization. In accordance with the amendments to the Constitutional Law on Elections, this year the possibility of establishing polling stations at organizations with continuous production operations was introduced. During this election campaign, we are opening such polling stations for the first time. In this way, we are expanding access to elections for voters and ensuring their constitutional right to elect. Today, we visited the Qarmet rolling mill to see firsthand how the organizational issues related to the establishment of new polling stations are being addressed and whether the plant workers who will be engaged in continuous production during voting hours will be able to cast their ballots here, at their workplace, and exercise their right to vote,” - said Nurlan Abdirov.

During a meeting between the Chairman of the Central Election Commission and the employees and management of the enterprise, it was noted that four such new polling stations have been established in the Karaganda Region. Three of them are located at organizations with continuous production operations at Qarmet JSC facilities in the cities of Temirtau and Balkhash. Another polling station has been established at a shift workers’ camp in the Nurinsky District of the region.

“Here in the workshop, we work in continuous production. Participation in elections is often connected with our shift schedules. The establishment of such polling stations at the enterprise allows us, as metallurgical workers, to vote quickly and without unnecessary difficulties while keeping the production process running. I urge all citizens of Kazakhstan to come to the polling stations on August 23 and make their choice!” - said Ilya Maliga, Deputy Head of the Rolling Mill Shop at Qarmet JSC.

In the regional capital, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission visited Polling Station No. 16, which has been designated as a training and resource centre for ensuring the accessibility of the electoral process for persons with disabilities. The polling station is equipped with modern facilities enabling all categories of voters to participate in the voting process independently, including a lifting platform, a staff call button, handrails, widened doorways, specially designed booths for secret voting, and other accessibility features. An accessible taxi service will also be available on Election Day. It should be noted that 6,245 voters with disabilities are registered in the region.

“Ensuring equal opportunities is important for us. We see that, in preparation for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai, special attention is being paid to ensuring the accessibility of polling stations for people with disabilities. For blind and visually impaired voters, ballot templates using Braille are provided, the opportunity to listen to the text of the ballot in audio format is available, and dedicated accessibility areas are being created. Conditions are also being provided for people with mobility impairments who use wheelchairs. This approach reflects the principle of equality of electoral rights and should be implemented as widely as possible,” - said Niyaz Sunditaliyev, Chairman of the “Qamqor plus” Public Association, following his visit to the polling station.

In turn, the CEC Chairman, after visiting the training and modular center, emphasized the particular importance of equipping all polling stations with dedicated accessibility areas for persons with disabilities. These areas should be equipped with a computer, headphones for listening to the ballot text in audio format, and a ballot template using Braille. Information posters should be placed at a height accessible to wheelchair users, and all polling stations should have secret voting booths adapted for people using wheelchairs.

In addition, the CEC Chairman visited polling stations No. 294 and No. 295 in the city of Temirtau, as well as No. 106 and No. 107 in the city of Karaganda, where issues related to the preparation of polling stations, the organization of election commission members’ work, and interaction with voters were discussed. 

On the same day, a meeting chaired by Nurlan Abdirov was held to discuss the region’s readiness for the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan. With the participation of regional authorities, law enforcement agencies, and other state bodies, the meeting addressed issues related to updating voter lists, the material and technical equipment of polling stations, ensuring public safety, compliance with the law during the election campaign, as well as interagency cooperation in the preparation and conduct of the elections.

As part of the visit, the CEC Chairman also held a working meeting with the chairpersons of the territorial and precinct election commissions of the Karaganda Region. During the meeting, the participants discussed the specifics of the current election campaign, issues related to the uniform application of electoral legislation, the organization of commission work on Election Day, as well as ensuring openness, transparency, and legality of the electoral process. 

The Central Election Commission pays particular attention to the systematic training of election commission members in the regions. In this regard, one of the key objectives of inspection visits is to organize on-site seminars for commission members, including through a cascading training approach, with the participation of supervising CEC members and staff. Today, such a seminar was held in the Karaganda Region, along with initial and final testing of members of the election commissions of the city of Temirtau. The practical part of the training focused on the analysis of case scenarios and action algorithms for commission members on Election Day using practice-oriented teaching methods.

The CEC Chairman was also briefed on the region’s extensive public awareness campaign regarding the progress of the election campaign. Official online resources, social networks, and messengers are being used for this purpose, while special online services for voters are available. To provide prompt consultations to citizens, 14 call centers have been opened, and the unified 109 service operates around the clock, providing necessary information on election-related matters.

Inspection visits by CEC members to the regions will continue until August 17, 2026, and will cover all regions of the country. During these visits, territorial and precinct election commissions will receive practical and methodological assistance to ensure the uniform application of electoral legislation. The organization of electoral training will be monitored, and the readiness of election commissions to conduct the elections of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan will also be assessed.