PM Bektenov casts his vote in 2026 Qurultay elections

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov cast his ballot on Sunday, 23 August 2026, in the first elections of природного...

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov cast his ballot in the first Qurultay elections of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the press service of the government.

More than 10,400 polling stations opened their doors across the country Sunday for the first elections to the country's new 145-seat unicameral legislature, the Kurultai, marking the first nationwide vote under the republic's new constitutional system. Polling stations across Kazakhstan opened at 7 am local time and will close at 8 pm. Some stations at military facilities, shift-worker settlements, continuous-production facilities and specialized institutions opened an hour earlier. According to its data, about 12.6 million voters are registered for the election. The Central Election Commission reported 17.96% voter turnout three hours after all polling stations in the country opened.

Media additions

Kazakh citizens can also vote at 79 polling stations established at diplomatic missions in 61 countries. Polling station No. 423 has opened in Malaysia, giving Kazakh citizens staying in the country the opportunity to cast their votes in the 2026 Qurultay elections, Qazinform News Agency reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. The polling station began operating on schedule at Kazakhstan’s diplomatic mission. Earlier, polling stations for the Qurultay elections opened in South Korea and Japan. Voting also began at Kazakhstan’s Embassy in Beijing and at the consulates general in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Hong Kong. Voting abroad has been suspended in Iran and Ukraine for security reasons, while no polling station was established at the Kazakh Embassy in Ethiopia because there are no registered Kazakh citizens there.

On July 1, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev decreed that elections to the Qurultay of the Republic of Kazakhstan would be held on August 23, 2026. The Central Election Commission approved the calendar plan for the preparation and conduct of the elections, as well as the list of political parties eligible to participate in the elections. Voters are choosing among seven parties — Adilet, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baitak, the People's Party of Kazakhstan, Auyl, Ak Zhol and Respublica — as well as a "none of the above" option. The new Kurultai will be elected entirely through party lists, replacing the previous system that combined party-list and single-mandate elections. Parties must receive more than 5% of the vote to enter parliament.

First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Erlan Karin described the election as "the beginning of a new stage" of Kazakhstan's "national reset."

"These elections are not ordinary elections. These elections are truly of historic importance because the next stage of the national reset begins after the adoption of the new Constitution,"

Erlan Karin, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration

He said the new parliamentary election would provide fresh momentum to the political transformation and modernization processes underway in Kazakhstan. Kazakh police have been placed on heightened alert for election day, Interior Ministry spokesman Shyngys Alekeshev said. According to him, all polling stations had been inspected for security and placed under round-the-clock protection. Authorities said the situation remained stable, with no serious violations of public order reported. Prosecutors said eight violations of election legislation had been identified during the campaign period, including three cases involving illegal election-related opinion polling and five involving campaigning violations.

Election Day Quick Facts

• Date: Sunday, 23 August 2026
• Legislature: New unicameral Kurultai consisting of 145 deputies
• Registered Voters: Approximately 12.6 million
• Participating Parties: Adilet, Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baitak, People's Party of Kazakhstan, Auyl, Ak Zhol, and Respublica
• Electoral Threshold: Parties must surpass 5% of the vote to enter parliament

Polling stations opened across the country, with voting set to continue until 8:00 p.m.