President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K.Tokayev on the initiative of holding direct elections of akims of districts and cities of regional significance

On September 1, 2023, during the Address to the People of Kazakhstan, President K.K.Tokayev put forward an initiative to hold direct elections of akims of districts and cities of regional significance.

This is an important stage in the process of political reforms aimed at decentralizing public administration and expanding the direct participation of citizens in decision-making at the level of local executive power.

Now self-nominees can become Akims with the support of at least 1% of the total number of voters.

The necessary legal framework for holding these elections was formed last year.

Currently, the Maslikhats of 17 regions have approved a list of 45 districts and cities of regional significance for holding elections in a pilot mode, and their date has also been set – November 5 this year.

Candidates from among the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan aged at least 25 years will be able to be nominated in the following ways:

political parties registered in accordance with the established procedure, from among their members. At the same time, a political party has the right to nominate only one candidate in one electoral district;
by self-nomination, with the support of at least 1% of the total number of eligible voters in the relevant constituency.
The election results are determined by the territorial election commission of the district (city) within three days (paragraph 1 of Article 113-10 of the Constitutional Law on Elections).

The candidate who has received a greater number of votes of the voters who took part in the voting in comparison with other candidates is considered to be the elected akim.

The meetings of the election commissions will be held in an open format. Candidates, proxies, observers, and media representatives may be present.