Historic Local Mayor Elections Mark Kazakhstan’s Political Modernization
Kazakhstan Takes Historic Step in Political Modernization with Pilot Mayoral Elections
Last month, Kazakhstan made history by holding its first-ever pilot elections of akims (mayors) in districts and cities of regional significance. The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) has defined the event as a significant step in the country’s political modernization, stating that the newly elected mayors may bring about change to the governance of local communities. In the Nov. 5 elections, regional maslikhats (local governing bodies) approved a list of 42 districts and three cities of regional significance – Kurchatov, Priozersk, and Rudny. The voter turnout reached 62.79%, demonstrating a high level of civil engagement. Furthermore, the average age of the elected candidates is 46.7 years, indicating a blend of experience and fresh perspectives in local leadership. The decision aligns with Kazakhstan’s democratic course, aimed at enhancing civic participation and decentralizing governance.
According to Amina Urpekova, the chief expert at the KazISS department for the studies on electoral processes, the voter turnout is quite high given the fact that the elections are pilot and considering the 54.2% voter turnout in the last elections of deputies of the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament.
The pilot elections saw a significant number of candidates applying for participation, with 161 candidates being registered after a thorough review of their compliance with legislation. Notably, 89 of the 161 registered candidates were self-nominated, demonstrating a strong interest among the population in local governance.
Five regions in Kazakhstan – Aktobe, Turkistan, Almaty, Mangystau, and Zhetysu – exhibited the highest activity in the elections.
In addition to boosting political activity and public engagement, the pilot elections contributed to the development of the electoral system through the accumulation of experience in organizing and conducting large-scale regional electoral campaigns. However, the elections also shed light on the need for improvement in three key areas – female participation, youth engagement, and the political and legal literacy of the population.
To address these issues, the government should take steps to promote women’s participation through stimulating state measures and facilitating the work of political parties. Efforts should also be made to increase electoral activity at the local level among the younger generation. Furthermore, there is a need to promote political and legal literacy of the population regarding the electoral process.
Two weeks ago, an international scientific and practical conference organized by the Human Rights Commissioner’s Office reviewed Kazakhstan’s human rights advancement, highlighting the Nov. 5 elections as a pioneering and democratic practice in Central Asia. The successful execution of the pilot elections reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to democratic reform and political modernization.
