Kazakhstan held a nationwide referendum on March 15 on a draft of a new Constitution, in a vote authorities described as highly significant for the country’s future political development. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his ballot at polling station No. 51, located in the Palace of Schoolchildren in Astana, according to the Akorda press service.
After voting, Tokayev said the day would be decisive for the country’s destiny and called the proposed Constitution a historic document. He argued that the new Basic Law would provide stronger guarantees for citizens’ rights and freedoms, while also protecting Kazakhstan’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty. The president added that the Constitution adopted in 1995 had played an important role in the country’s development, but said the time had come for a new version in response to changing realities.
Tokayev also said he had been actively involved in preparing the draft, including proposals concerning the preamble and several of its legal provisions. He expressed confidence that the new Constitution would serve Kazakhstan’s prosperity and long-term future. Commenting on other political issues during his exchange with reporters, the president noted that the next presidential election would be held on schedule in 2029 in accordance with the current Constitution.
The referendum is being conducted under a presidential decree signed on February 11 this year. Voters were asked whether they approve the draft Constitution that was published in the media on February 12, 2026. The proposed reform would introduce major institutional changes, including the replacement of Kazakhstan’s current bicameral parliament with a unicameral Kurultai consisting of 145 deputies.
The vote is seen as one of the most important political events in Kazakhstan this year, as it could reshape the country’s constitutional framework and the structure of state power. The outcome will determine whether the proposed model of governance, presented by the authorities as a step toward political renewal, becomes the foundation of Kazakhstan’s next stage of development.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
