Kazakhstan is set to hold early elections for its local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, on November 29. This decision follows an announcement by the Central Election Commission, prompted by a decree from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that ended the powers of maslikhats at all levels.
The upcoming elections will fill a total of 3,447 seats across 228 maslikhats, which operate at regional, city, and district levels. Specifically, the elections will determine the occupants of 668 regional seats, 626 city seats, and 2,053 district seats. This move is in accordance with Kazakhstan’s election law, which mandates the Central Election Commission to call early elections within two months following the early termination of a maslikhat’s powers.
Maslikhat deputies in Kazakhstan are elected by local residents through direct, equal, and secret voting. Once elected, these deputies serve for a term of five years. The early elections are a significant event for the local governance structure of Kazakhstan, as they will establish new representatives who will address regional and local issues.