Kazakhstan is set to conduct early elections for its local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, on November 29. This move comes after the Central Election Commission’s announcement, prompted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s decree to end maslikhats’ powers at all levels. According to Kazakhstan’s election law, the commission is required to organize early elections within two months following the early termination of maslikhats’ powers.
The upcoming elections will determine the composition of 3,447 seats across 228 maslikhats, which operate at regional, city, and district levels. Specifically, the elections will fill 668 regional seats, 626 city seats, and 2,053 district seats. These maslikhat deputies are elected by local residents through a process of direct, equal, and secret voting, and each serves a term of five years.
The decision to hold early elections reflects the broader political reforms underway in Kazakhstan, as the country continues to adapt its governance structures. The elections are part of an effort to engage citizens in local governance and ensure that representative bodies at various levels are filled in a timely manner.