Across Kazakhstan, the general elections for deputies of the lower chamber of parliament and for maslikhats, which are local representative bodies at all levels, have officially begun. This marks a major moment in the country’s democratic process, with voters set to participate in nationwide contests that determine both national legislative composition and regional governance for the coming term. (Source attribution: election authorities in Kazakhstan.)
At 07:00 local time in Astana, corresponding to 04:00 Moscow time, 13 ballot boxes were already open as part of a broader network of 8,272 polling locations throughout the republic. These polling sites extend beyond Kazakhstan’s borders to include representations of the Republic in 12 foreign countries, such as the Consulate General in Omsk, where local voters also prepared to exercise their franchise. (Source attribution: Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan.)
Early reports indicated that the majority of polling stations—roughly 10.2 thousand in republican regions—had opened their doors on time, with many starting to register votes at 07:00 local time. A smaller subset opened slightly earlier, at 06:00, to accommodate voters in various time zones and logistical arrangements. Regardless of the opening times, all polling locations are scheduled to close at 20:00 local time, after which vote counting will commence to determine the final results. (Source attribution: national election authorities.)
In total, about 12.3 million eligible voters are expected to cast ballots, reflecting the broad participation anticipated in this electoral cycle across urban and rural areas alike. The process is designed to ensure that citizens across the country have access to polling stations and that the counting process proceeds transparently once polls close. (Source attribution: electoral commission communications.)