IFES Election Guide | Elections: Kazakh National Congress 2026 General (Kurultai)

Aug. 23, 2026 Confirmed

Republic of Kazakhstan

Election for Kurultai (Kazakh National Congress)

Results

Election Results Modified: Jul 07, 2026

General Information

At Stake in this Election:

All 145 seats of the Kazakh National Congress (Kurultai)

Government Structure:

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

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

Assembly: Previously, Kazakhstan had a bicameral parliament consisting of a 50-seat Senate (Сенаты) and a 98-seat lower chamber known as the Mazhilis (Мәжіліс). A new Constitution came into force on 1 July 2026, after a 15 March 2026 referendum. Under the new legal framework Kazakhstan will have a unicameral National Congress (Kurultai) consisting of 145-seats.

Electoral System:

The President is directly elected by a simple majority vote and serves a 7-year, non-renewable term.

The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is subject to a vote of approval from the legislature.

145 members of the National Congress (Kurultai) are directly elected via proportional representation from a single, nationwide constituency Deputies will serve a 5-year term. The President also nominates a Chair to lead the Kurultai, who is subject to a vote of approval from the legislature.

Last Election:

The last elections for the Kazakh House of Representatives (Mazhilis) was held in March 2023. The Amanat Party won a majority of seats (62 of 98) and voter turnout was 53%. Senate seats were filled via indirect elections and presidential appointments in January of 2023.

New/Unique in this Election:

This is the first election that Kazakhstan is holding after a 15 March 2026, referendum, which was followed by a new Constitution’s entry into force on 1 July 2026. With this new election, the country will transition from having a bicameral to a unicameral parliament.

Information for Voters:

ҚР-дағы сайлау және референдумдар туралы ақпарат / Information about elections and referendums in the Republic of Kazakhstan (in Kazakh)

Key Deadlines:

Voter registration deadline: Not applicable, registration is passive

Candidate filing deadline: July 23, 2026 (deadline for registration of party lists)

Main Parties in this Election:

Auyl Party

- Seats won in the last election: 8 seats out of 98

Adilet Party

- Seats won in the last election: 0 seats out of 98*

Baitak Party

- Seats won in the last election: 0 seats out of 98

People’s Party of Kazakhstan

- Seats won in the last election: 5 seats out of 98

Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan

- Seats won in the last election: 6 seats out of 98

National Social Democratic Party

- Seats won in the last election: 5 seats out of 98

Respublica Party

- Seats won in the last election: 6 seats out of 98

*The former, ruling Amanat Party (which won 62 seats in the 2023 legislative elections) merged with the newly formed Adilet Party in 2026.

6 independent candidates also won seats in the last election.

Country Context:

Population: 20,843,754 (2025 est.)

Registered Voters: 12,035,578 (2026 est.)

V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index Score: 0.26 (2026)

V-Dem Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Autocracy/Closed Autocracy (2026)

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

Gender Data:

Female Population: 10,686,969 (2025 est.)

CEDAW Status: Ascended 26 August 1998

Gender Quota:  Women, youth (35 or under), and persons with disabilities must make up a combined total of at least 30% of each party’s closed list. However, there are no explicit rules around minimum or equal representation for women in the final legislature.

Female Candidates in this election: Yes

Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 19 out of 98 (19%) in the Mazhilis, and 12 out of 50 (24%) in the Senate, which will be replaced by the National Congress (Kurultai)