Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission has announced that early elections for local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, will be held on November 29. This decision follows a decree by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which ended the current powers of maslikhats at all levels.
The upcoming elections will fill a total of 3,447 seats across 228 maslikhats. These seats are distributed among regional, city, and district levels, with 668 seats allocated to regional maslikhats, 626 to city maslikhats, and 2,053 to district maslikhats.
According to Kazakhstan’s election law, early elections must be organized by the Central Election Commission within two months after the early termination of a maslikhat’s powers. The maslikhat deputies, who are elected by local residents, serve five-year terms. These elections are conducted through a process of direct, equal, and secret voting, ensuring local residents have a say in their representatives.
This election marks a significant political event in Kazakhstan, as it involves a comprehensive reshuffling of local governing bodies. The process reflects the country’s adherence to its legal frameworks governing electoral processes and local governance.