Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission has announced that early elections for local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, will be held on November 29. These elections will fill a total of 3,447 seats across various levels of maslikhats, including 668 regional seats, 626 city seats, and 2,053 district seats.
The decision for early elections follows a decree by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which terminated the powers of maslikhats at all levels. According to Kazakhstan’s election law, the Central Election Commission is required to call for early elections within two months after the termination of a maslikhat’s powers.
Maslikhat deputies are selected by local residents through a process of direct, equal, and secret voting. Once elected, these deputies serve for a term of five years, playing a crucial role in representing their communities at regional, city, and district levels.
This upcoming election is significant as it comes in the wake of a presidential decree that necessitated an early vote, underscoring the dynamic nature of local governance in Kazakhstan. The process allows citizens to have a say in their local government and ensures that representatives are accountable to their constituents.