Structure of Electoral Bodies in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Principles of Their Formation

Election commissions are the state electoral bodies responsible for organizing the preparation and conduct of elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The term of office of election commissions is five years.

The unified system of election commissions comprises:

• The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• Territorial election commissions;
• District election commissions;
• Precinct election commissions.

The Central Election Commission heads the unified system of election commissions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is a permanent body.

The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan appoints and dismisses the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission and, with the consent of the Kurultai expressed by a majority vote of its total membership, appoints six members of the Central Election Commission for a five-year term.

The Central Election Commission oversees subordinate organizations whose functions include supporting the organizational activities of territorial election commissions; ensuring the establishment, development, implementation, support, administration, operation and technical maintenance of digital infrastructure facilities and the Commission's website in connection with its electoral activities; providing logistical and technical support; and organizing, coordinating and supporting activities aimed at improving voters' legal awareness, as well as training election organizers and other participants in the electoral process.

The operating expenses of the Central Election Commission and its administrative staff are financed from the national budget.

Members of territorial, district and precinct election commissions are elected by the respective maslikhats on the basis of nominations submitted by political parties.

Each political party is entitled to nominate one candidate for membership of the relevant election commission. Political parties may also nominate individuals who are not members of the nominating party.

If political parties fail to submit nominations within the period established by the maslikhat, the maslikhats elect members of election commissions on the basis of nominations submitted by other public associations and higher-level election commissions.

Where necessary, a higher-level election commission may appoint a member to fill a vacant position on an election commission until the body responsible for forming that commission elects a new member in accordance with the procedure established by the Constitutional Law on Elections.

Central Election Commission:

• Monitors compliance with electoral legislation throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan, ensures its uniform application, and adopts decisions within its competence that are binding throughout the country;
• Organizes the preparation and conduct of elections of the President and deputies of the Kurultai;
• Provides methodological guidance to territorial election commissions and monitors their compliance with electoral legislation in the organization and conduct of elections of maslikhat deputies, akims and members of other local self-government bodies.

Territorial Election Commission:

• Monitors compliance with electoral legislation within the respective administrative-territorial unit;
• Ensures the preparation and conduct of elections of the President, deputies of the Kurultai and maslikhats, akims and members of other local self-government bodies;
• Supervises the activities of lower-level territorial, district and precinct election commissions;
• Monitors the accuracy and reliability of voter information and electoral precinct boundaries, as well as the timely and proper preparation of voter lists and their availability for public inspection;
• Calls and organizes elections of akims;
• Calls by-elections to fill vacant seats in maslikhats in the relevant electoral constituencies;
• Organizes activities to explain electoral legislation; organizes and conducts training for participants in the electoral process; and holds seminars with representatives of political parties and other participants in the electoral process on the organisation and conduct of elections.

District Election Commission:

• Monitors compliance with electoral legislation within the respective electoral constituency;
• Organizes elections of maslikhat deputies in single-member territorial constituencies;
• Conducts repeat elections and by-elections to fill vacant seats in maslikhats in single-member territorial constituencies;
• Organizes and coordinates the activities of precinct election commissions;
• Ensures that voting results for the electoral constituency are transmitted to the higher-level election commission.

Precinct Election Commission:

• Conducts electoral activities at the polling station for elections of the President, deputies of the Kurultai and maslikhats, akims and members of other local self-government bodies;
• Informs voters of the location of the precinct election commission;
• Updates and verifies the voter list for the respective electoral precinct;
• Provides citizens with access to the voter list, reviews applications concerning errors and inaccuracies in the list, and decides on the necessary corrections;
• Takes the necessary measures to ensure the exercise of electoral rights by persons with disabilities;
• Informs voters of the date, time and location of voting;
• Prepares the polling premises and ensures the availability of voting booths and ballot boxes;
• Organizes voting at the polling station on election day;
• Counts votes and determines the voting results at the polling station;
• Reviews applications and complaints concerning the preparation and organization of voting and adopts decisions on them;
• Organizes activities to explain electoral legislation; organizes and conducts training for participants in the electoral process; and holds seminars with representatives of political parties and other participants in the electoral process on the organization and conduct of elections.