The delegation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov, took part in the International Conference on Democracy and Election Management held on 21-23 January 2026 in New Delhi, India. The event was organised by the Election Commission of India in partnership with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and brought together representatives of 43 central election management bodies, as well as more than 500 participants from international organisations, the expert community and non-governmental organisations.

The conference discussions focused on the resilience of electoral systems, the institutional development of election administration bodies, and the adoption of advanced international best practices. The Chairman of Kazakhstan’s CEC delivered remarks at the plenary session of heads of election bodies and at the Global Thematic Session “Independent and Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy,” presenting Kazakhstan’s experience in reforming its electoral system and professionalising election administration.

“The Constitutional Reform of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has fundamentally transformed the system of election administration bodies. The expansion of the electoral space, linked to the conduct of ongoing local elections, required a transition to a professional, permanent basis for the work of election organisers. This has made it possible to substantially strengthen the institutional framework of election bodies and has contributed to building sustainable professional and managerial competencies among election administrators,” CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov noted.

During presentations and meetings with heads of central election bodies, particular attention was paid to the key points of the Address by the Head of State at the 5th Session of the National Kurultai. Conference participants were briefed in detail on the main priorities for the further evolution of the political system, plans to move to a unicameral Parliament, and efforts to strengthen the country’s institutional framework. Considerable interest was shown in the decision to establish a Constitutional Commission and to submit the draft amendments to the Constitution for a nationwide referendum. The approaches presented generated significant interest among participants of the international conference.

During the visit, the Chairman of the CEC RK held a bilateral meeting with India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. The parties discussed prospects for developing cooperation, exchanging experience in the field of electoral training and at the expert level, as well as matters related to concluding a Memorandum of Understanding between the election commissions of the two countries. During the meeting, the Indian side was provided with detailed information on the further steps of the upcoming constitutional reform and the nationwide referendum.

In addition, the Chair of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan met with International IDEA Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora. During the discussion, the international organisation expressed interest in the reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan and confirmed its readiness to continue expert and methodological cooperation. International IDEA is an international organisation with permanent observer status at the United Nations and is a partner of the European Union.

During the conference, the Chairman of the CEC RK also held a series of meetings with the heads of central election bodies of the United States of America, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Georgia, Latvia, Armenia, and a number of other countries. The discussions focused on the development of electoral systems and the exchange of practical experience.

On the final day of the conference, CEC Deputy Chairman Mukhtar Yerman delivered a presentation during a model session. His remarks addressed key issues in electoral training for election organisers in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the development of a system of continuous professional development, as well as the dialogue platforms operating under the CEC of Kazakhstan.

Overall, the participation of the Kazakhstan CEC delegation in the international conference contributed to strengthening international dialogue in the electoral sphere and to promoting Kazakhstan’s experience in reforming its electoral system at the international level. Following all meetings, the CEC of Kazakhstan presented English-language publications on electoral matters. Representatives of foreign central election bodies and international organisations were also invited to take part in the upcoming nationwide referendum as international observers.