Kazakhstan’s Landmark Referendum

Around 73% of eligible voters participated in the March 15 constitutional referendum in Kazakhstan, marking the largest turnout since the presidential elections 2019.

In the weeks leading up to the vote, billboards, leaflets, and banners calling people to vote for the new draft Constitution could be seen everywhere, from the side of public buses to banners at football matches. Much of the advertising space featured public figures endorsing the proposed text, echoing government messaging that the new Constitution would represent a step into the future.

In several major cities, residents were offered free public transportation on Sunday, a measure authorities promoted as a way to encourage turnout.

A polling station in Astana. Photo: Paolo Sorbello

Free bus rides in Astana on March 15. Photo: Paolo Sorbello

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his vote in the morning, though images and videos of the event were only released around noon after a brief press conference organized with state-owned media outlets. Other journalists who had gathered at the polling station where Tokayev was expected to vote were detained before his arrival and released only after he had left.

During the briefing with state media, Tokayev said that he planned to change the Constitution already in 2022.

“We could have adopted a new Constitution when we made amendments in 2022, but we refrained from doing so,” Tokayev said, referring to the 2022 constitutional referendum.

Addressing speculation about succession, a hot topic in political circles, Tokayev said he intends to remain in office until the end of his current term.

“The next presidential election will take place, as scheduled, in accordance with the deadlines set by the current Constitution—in 2029,” Tokayev said.

Photo by Daniyar Mussirov.

The March 15 vote was marred with several procedural violations highlighted by independent observers and journalists. A number of observers reported being unlawfully evacuated from polling stations.

Despite a ban on taking pictures inside polling booths, several people shared a photo of their ballots. Government workers, as per tradition, were reportedly asked by their supervisors to document their participation in the vote.

Public workers taking pictures while casting their ballots in Almaty. Photo: Almas Kaisar.

Others took a picture of their “no” vote and posted it on social media as a protest action.

Ahead of and during the voting day, preventive detentions, pressure, and temporary social media bans on a number of activists and journalists effectively stifled any dissenting voices.

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