2026 Qurultay elections: Polling stations open in Japan, South Korea, China
Kazakhstanis staying in South Korea and Japan became the first to cast their ballots in the 2026 Qurultay elections, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Polling station No. 422 in Seoul and polling station No. 425 in Tokyo began operating at 07:00 local time in the premises of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic missions.
Polling stations have also opened at Kazakhstan’s Embassy in Beijing and at the country’s consulates general in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Hong Kong.
At 07:00 Beijing time, members of the election commissions held a ceremonial opening of the ballot stations with the performance of Kazakhstan’s National Anthem.
Voting in the four Chinese cities will be held from 04:00 to 17:00 Astana time (07:00 to 20:00 Beijing time). Ballot counting and the drafting of official protocols will begin at 20:00 local time.
Kazakh citizens residing or staying in China are eligible to take part in the vote at these locations.
All overseas polling stations are located within Kazakhstan’s diplomatic missions. Citizens residing or temporarily staying abroad may cast their ballots at these designated sites.
On July 1, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev decreed that elections to the Qurultay of the Republic of Kazakhstan would be held on August 23, 2026. The Central Election Commission approved the calendar plan for the preparation and conduct of the elections, as well as the list of political parties eligible to participate in the elections.