Kazakhstan is set to hold early elections for its local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, on November 29, as announced by the Central Election Commission. These elections will fill 3,447 seats across various levels, encompassing regional, city, and district maslikhats.
The breakdown of the seats includes 668 at the regional level, 626 at the city level, and 2,053 at the district level. This decision follows the decree by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which ended the powers of the maslikhats at all levels. According to Kazakhstan’s election law, the Central Election Commission is required to call for early elections within two months following the early termination of a maslikhat’s powers.
Maslikhat deputies are elected by local residents through a process of direct, equal, and secret voting, and they serve five-year terms. The upcoming elections offer an opportunity for the citizens of Kazakhstan to choose their local representatives anew, following the recent changes decreed by the president.