Kazakhstan's Constitutional Referendum: Voting Rules and Timeline Announced

The Central Referendum Commission of Kazakhstan has detailed the procedures for the upcoming nationwide vote on the draft of a new Constitution, clarifying when voting will be considered valid and announcing the official timeline for counting ballots and announcing results.

The referendum will be held on March 15th. Citizens will be able to cast their votes from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time at 9,799 polling stations based on their place of registration. An additional 632 stations will operate in military units, rest homes, sanatoriums, inpatient medical facilities, pre-trial detention centers, and at Kazakhstan's diplomatic missions abroad.

Azamat Aimanakumov, a member of the Central Referendum Commission, explained that a precinct commission can declare voting concluded at any time if all citizens listed in the voter rolls have already cast their ballots.

Citizens who have changed their place of residence can vote using an absentee certificate. This document is issued by a precinct commission upon a written application from the voter upon presentation of an identity document. The certificate can be obtained starting 15 days before voting day until 6:00 PM on the day preceding the vote. A corresponding note is made in the voter list.

An absentee certificate is not issued to citizens wishing to vote at another polling station within the same locality. The certificate has a five-digit serial number; if lost, it is not restored and no duplicate is issued. Therefore, from February 27th until March 14th at 6:00 PM local time, citizens have the right to obtain an absentee certificate from the referendum precinct commission at their place of permanent registration.

Aimanakumov emphasized that each citizen votes personally; transferring voting rights or voting on behalf of others is not permitted.

The counting of votes will begin at 8:00 PM local time unless voting hours were changed for a specific precinct. In case of such changes, counting starts immediately after voting concludes.

The referendum will be considered valid if more than half of eligible citizens participate. The decision on the proposed question is considered adopted if it is supported by more than half of those who voted.

The results will be summarized during a meeting of the Central Referendum Commission and formalized in an official protocol. An official announcement regarding the results must be published in mass media no later than seven days after voting day—meaning by March 21st.

If adopted, all current laws and regulations remain in force as long as they do not contradict the new fundamental law. The government and state bodies must bring their acts into compliance with it. Rulings by both the Constitutional Council and Constitutional Court also remain effective provided they do not conflict with provisions in the new document.