At Stake in this Election: 

In March, Voters in Kazakhstan are deciding on whether to approve a new constitution: 

• Referendum Text In Kazakh: «Жобасы бұқаралық ақпарат құралдарында 2026 жылғы 12 ақпанда жарияланған Қазақстан Республикасының жаңа Конституциясын қабылдайсыз ба?»

• Referendum Text in English (Informal Translation): Do you accept the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the draft of which was published in the mass media on February 12, 2026? 

Government Structure: 

• Chief of State: President Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV (since 12 June 2019) 

• Head of Government: Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024) 

• Assembly: bicameral Parliament (Қазақстан Республикасының Парламенті), comprised of a 69-seat Senate (Қазақстан Республикасы Парламентінің Сенаты) and a 98-seat Mazhilis (Қазақстан Республикасы Парламентінің Мәжілісі) 

Electoral System: 

• The President is directly elected in two rounds if needed to serve 7-year terms. The same person may not be elected President more than once.  

• The Prime Minister is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Mazhilis.  

• 10 members of the Senate are appointed by the President, five of which are appointed on the proposal of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan. All other members are appointed regionally. Members serve 6-year terms. 

• Members of the Mazhilis are elected under a mixed electoral system, comprised of both single-seat territorial districts and proportional representation in a single, nationwide constituency. Members of the Mazhilis serve 5-year terms.  

Last Election: 

The last referendum was held on October 6, 2024. The vote concerned the approval of the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. 71.12% voted yes and 28.88% voted no. Voter turnout was 64%. 

Information for Voters: 

Ағымдағы электоралдық науқан туралы ақпарат / Information about the Current Electoral Campaign (in Kazakh) 

Country Context: 

• Population: 20,592,571 (2024 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 12,284,487 (2024 est.) 

• V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index Score: 0.272 (2024) 

• V-Dem Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Autocracy (2024) 

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.837, Very High, Rank 60 (2023) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 10,562,665 (2024 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Ascended 26 August 1998  

• Gender Quota: Yes, legislated quotas that require at least 30% of the total number of candidates be women, persons with disabilities, or youth.  

• Female Candidates in this election: n/a 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 17 out of 101 (16.8%) in the lower house and 10 out of 50 (20%) in the upper house. 

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 20.9 (2023)  

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 11 December 2008, Ratified 21 April 2015 

• Projected population with a disability: 3,294,811 (2024 est.)