Kazakhstan announces referendum date on new Constitution

On February 11, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree scheduling a nationwide referendum on the draft of a new Constitution for March 15, 2026, the presidential press service reported.

According to the decree, the draft Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, published on February 12, 2026, will be put to a vote. The referendum ballot will include the following question: “Do you accept the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan published in the mass media on February 12, 2026?”

The decree and the draft Constitution will be officially published on February 12. Preparation and conduct of the referendum have been assigned to the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, which performs the functions of the Central Referendum Commission, as well as to regional election bodies.

The government has been instructed to take the necessary organizational measures to hold the referendum in cooperation with the Central Election Commission and local executive authorities. The decree enters into force upon official publication.

Earlier, it was reported that more than 80 percent of Kazakhstan’s Constitution would be rewritten, with amendments covering 77 articles.

Previous constitutional changes:

In 1998, the terms of office for the president and members of parliament were extended. In 2007, the country switched to a proportional electoral system and granted the First President the right to be elected an unlimited number of times. In 2011, procedures for holding early presidential elections were established. In 2017, some presidential powers were transferred to parliament and the government. In 2019, amendments were introduced following the renaming of the capital to Nur-Sultan. In 2022, one-third of the Constitution (33 articles) was amended through a nationwide referendum, and the presidential term was set at a single seven-year term.

Jamshidbek Amirov