ALMATY – Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s first elections to the Kurultai reached 37.05% as of noon on Aug. 23, with 4,670,816 voters having received ballots, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his ballot at polling station No.
520. Photo credit: Akorda. Kyzylorda Region recorded the highest turnout at 47.59%, followed by Zhetisu Region at 47.29% and Turkistan Region at 43.14%. Turnout in the Aktobe Region stood at 42.5%, East Kazakhstan at 41.89%, Shymkent at 41.6% and the Karagandy Region at 40.56%.
The lowest turnout was recorded in Almaty at 17.87%. Other regions with turnout below 35% included the Mangystau Region at 34.68% and the Kostanai Region at 34.72%. Turnout in Astana reached 35.28%, while the Almaty Region recorded 39.05% and the Abai Region 38.51%.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev voted at polling station No. 514. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his ballot at polling station No. 520, located at the Palace of Independence in Astana. After voting, Tokayev briefed representatives of the media and described the election as a significant milestone for Kazakhstan, reported Akorda.
“Today is truly a historic day for our country. For the first time, we are holding elections to a unicameral Kurultai. This is an important historical event,” Tokayev said. He noted that Kazakhstan has carried out large-scale reforms and achieved significant results, while emphasizing that substantial work remains.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov also cast his ballot in the first elections to the unicameral Kurultai, while Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev voted at polling station No. 514. First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Erlan Karin voted at a polling station in Astana, describing the first Kurultai elections as a historic event for Kazakhstan.
Polling stations for the Kurultai elections are operating now in more than 40 countries, allowing Kazakhstan citizens abroad to participate in the vote. The election will elect 145 members of Kazakhstan’s new unicameral Parliament. Seven political parties are contesting the election under a proportional representation system in a single nationwide constituency, with a 5% threshold for entering the legislature.