Constitutional and legal basis for the election of the deputy kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan

This article analyzes the legal framework for the elections of deputies to the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, formed as a result of the 2026 constitutional reform. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between the Constitution, the Constitutional Law on the Status of the Kurultai and its Deputies, and electoral legislation, as well as to assess the impact of the proportional electoral model on the political representation and accountability of deputies. The study utilizes formal legal, comparative legal, and institutional methods. It is substantiated that 145 Kurultai deputies are elected from party lists within a single national electoral district, and that supplementing the existing model with a single-mandate component requires constitutional amendments. The main problems with legal regulation include insufficient transparency in the proceduresfor forming party lists, limited voter influence on the selection of specific candidates, and weak regulation of the ongoing relations between deputies and the regions. It is recommended to publicize internal party selection procedures, ensure regional balance among party lists, legally enshrine annual reporting by deputies, and implement digital feedback mechanisms. The introduction of a single-mandate system is viewed as a long-term constitutional reform that can be implemented provided it ensures equal electoral districts, independent delimitation of boundaries, transparent funding, and effective judicial oversight.

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