Kazakhstan is set to conduct early elections for local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, on November 29, as announced by the Central Election Commission. This move follows a decree by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that terminated the powers of maslikhats at all levels, necessitating the call for early elections as per the country’s election law.
The upcoming elections will fill 3,447 seats across 228 maslikhats at regional, city, and district levels. Specifically, this includes 668 regional seats, 626 city seats, and 2,053 district seats. Maslikhat deputies are chosen by local residents through a process of direct, equal, and secret voting, and they serve terms of five years.
The decision to hold these elections comes within the legally mandated timeframe, as the Central Election Commission is required to organize early elections within two months following the early termination of the maslikhats’ powers. This ensures a timely transition and continuity of local governance in the country.