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Kazakhstan holds snap parliamentary elections

23 August 2026 10:10 (UTC +04:00)

Kazakhstan is holding snap elections to its unicameral parliament, the Kurultai.

A total of 10,423 polling stations have opened across the country and abroad, including 79 established at Kazakhstan's diplomatic missions in 61 countries.

Voting began at 07:00 local time and will continue until 20:00. However, polling stations at certain locations, including military units, continuously operating industrial facilities, shift-work settlements, holiday homes, sanatoriums and hospitals, may close earlier if all registered voters have cast their ballots.

A total of 12,605,788 eligible voters are expected to take part in the elections.

Seven political parties are competing for seats in the Kurultai: Adal, Auyl, Baytaq, Aq Jol, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP), the People's Party of Kazakhstan (NPK) and Respublica.

The elections are being monitored by 777 international observers representing 42 countries and 13 international organizations. They include 138 members of parliament from 41 countries.

Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission said voter turnout stood at 17.96% as of 10:00 local time.