Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s constitutional referendum surpasses 70% PHOTO

Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s referendum on the new Constitution has exceeded 70%, surpassing participation levels recorded in previous referendums and presidential elections, according to the Central Referendum Commission.

As of 16:00 local time (15:00 Baku time) on March 15, 64.43% of registered voters had cast their ballots, totalling more than 8 million participants out of 12.46 million registered, per Kazakh media.

Earlier in the day, turnout milestones were reported at 37.5% by noon and 51.9% by 14:00, meeting the legal threshold for the referendum to be considered valid.

The Central Commission highlighted significant regional variation in participation. The highest turnout was reported in Kyzylorda Region, while the largest city, Almaty, recorded the lowest. In the capital, Astana, approximately 40% of registered voters had participated by mid-afternoon.

Authorities stressed that the voting process remained smooth, with polling stations operating normally. The referendum will officially conclude at 20:00 local time. For context, the previous referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in 2024 saw a turnout of 63.66%, making the current vote one of the most attended in recent years.

By Khagan Isayev