2021 Kazakh local elections

Local elections were held in Kazakhstan on Sunday, 10 January 2021 to elect in total of all 3,754 councillors of the mäslihats (local legislatures) which includes 489 regional councillors and 3,265 municipal councillors. This is the first election to take place under party-list proportional representation system that was enacted in 2018, giving political parties a role in local races. The election coincided with the 2021 legislative elections.

2021 Kazakh local elections

10 January 2021
All 490 regional and 3,265 municipal councillors of Kazakhstan
Turnout	57.26%
Leader Nursultan Nazarbayev Äli Bektaev Azat Peruashev Party Nur Otan Auyl Ak Zhol Leader since 1 March 1999 26 August 2015 2 July 2011 Councillors 400 R, 2,683 M 41 R, 227 M 43 R, 224 M Popular vote* 10,951,426 1,002,799 1,002,184 Percentage 80.23% 7.35% 7.34%   Adal Leader Aiqyn Qongyrov Serik Sultangali Party People's Party Adal Leader since 11 November 2020 26 April 2013 Councillors 3 R, 104 M 3 R, 27 M Popular vote* 406,624 286,531 Percentage 2.98% 2.10%

The ruling Nur Otan party won majority of local seats with the other contesting parties managing to gain the 7% electoral threshold in some races.

Background

Throughout the history of Kazakhstan, local elections were non-partisan and the councillors were elected through single-member constituents.

In 2018, the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a bill that would allow all the councillors be chosen through party-list proportional representation. According to the Ministry of Justice, "the proportional system will ensure full representation of all political parties, will allow the development of party building, increase the role of parties in the political life of the country and take into account the interests of the people."[1] However, this move was met with skepticism as it would bare self-nominated candidates from running in the races or even being MP of the Mäslihat which some accused as violation of the Constitution.[2]

Campaign

On 10 December 2020, the Central Election Commission (OSK) registered in total of 8,334 candidates competing in the local races that were included in all 832 party lists in which 216 were from Nur Otan, 215 from Adal, 174 from Ak Zhol, 158 from Auyl, 69 from People's Party.

Results

Overall results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Nur Otan	5,106,818	80.02	3,083	+3083
	Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party	542,831	8.51	268	+268
	Ak Zhol Democratic Party	480,963	7.54	267	+267
	People's Party	137,380	2.15	107	+107
	Adal	113,953	1.79	30	+30
Total		6,381,945	100.00	3,755	3,744
Valid votes		6,381,945	97.33
Invalid/blank votes		175,061	2.67
Total votes		6,557,006	100.00

Seats earned by region

Region	NO	AJ	AUYL	QHP	ADAL	Total
Aktobe	27	3	3	0	0	33
Akmola	26	3	4	0	0	32
Almaty	37	0	4	4	0	45
Atyrau	25	3	3	0	0	31
East Kazakhstan	32	3	3	0	0	38
Jambyl	30	3	3	0	0	36
Karaganda	29	3	3	3	0	38
Kostanay	27	3	3	0	0	33
Kyzylorda	27	3	3	0	0	33
Mangystau	26	3	3	0	0	32
North Kazakhstan	24	3	3	0	0	30
Pavlodar	27	2	3	0	0	32
Turkistan	37	4	4	0	0	45
West Kazakhstan	25	3	3	0	0	31
Total seats:	399	39	45	7	0	490
Source: Turantimes.kz

Nationwide results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Nur Otan	10,951,426	80.23	3,083	+3082
	Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party	1,002,799	7.35	268	+268
	Ak Zhol Democratic Party	1,002,184	7.34	267	+267
	People's Party	406,624	2.98	107	+107
	Adal	286,531	2.10	30	+30
Total		13,649,564	100.00	3,755	3,744
Valid votes		13,649,564	97.40
Invalid/blank votes		364,311	2.60
Total votes		14,013,875	100.00
Source: Turantimes.kz Territorial Election Commissions

References

1. "Что будет, если и маслихаты будут избирать по партспискам?". Радио Азаттык (in Russian). 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
2. "Казахстан: почему местные выборы теперь будут на партийной основе?". CABAR.asia (in Russian). 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2020-12-11.