Voting ends and counting begins in Kazakhstan elections

Voting in Kazakhstan’s first elections for the new 145-seat unicameral legislature, the Kurultai, concluded on Sunday at 8 pm local time (0300GMT), with the election commission beginning to count ballots.

According to the Central Election Commission, 74.19% of those eligible voted.

Meanwhile, voting was still underway at polling stations abroad, with Kazakh citizens continuing to cast ballots at diplomatic missions in accordance with local time.

Voting was suspended in Iran and Ukraine for security reasons, while no polling station was opened at Kazakhstan’s embassy in Ethiopia because no citizens are registered there.

The election is being held under a new Constitution adopted this year that abolished the previous bicameral parliament and replaced it with a single-chamber legislature of 145 deputies.

Voters are choosing among seven parties — Adilet, Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baitak, People’s Party of Kazakhstan, Auyl, Ak Zhol and Respublica — as well as a “none of the above” option.

The Kurultai will be elected entirely through party lists, replacing the previous system that combined party-list and single-mandate elections.

Parties must receive more than 5% of the vote to win seats in parliament.