On June 9, 2019, snap presidential elections were held in Kazakhstan, where the 7 candidates participated from different parties and associations. Overall, there were 9,968 polling stations across Kazakhstan and at the country’s foreign missions abroad, where 11,960,364 electors were registered to vote. Particularly, 64 polling stations were organized at the diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in foreign states. All information about them was posted on the Internet resources of missions and on the pages in social networks.
Ballot counting was carried out by Central Election Commission (CEC) within 12 hours. Voter turnout was 77.5 percent of the registered voters, including 160,203 young voters casting their ballots for the first time. The country’s 9,968 polling stations were made accessible to 12,061 voters with special needs, including 3,502 voters requiring wheelchair access, 4,361 voters with visual impairment and 3,425 voters with hearing impairment. These elections were different by the fact that the population was quite active and voters expressed their positive attitude towards the future of Kazakhstan. The voters highlighted some spheres where they expect improvement and stressed that the government and citizens should work as a team to reach a better life condition. In order to provide fair and transparent election process, 1,013 international observers, including 866 observers from 9 international organizations and 147 observers from 41 foreign countries, have been invited and accredited by the CEC to observe the elections. The group of Romanian observers, which included six members of Parliament, has observed voting process in Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities on elections day. The mission watched the voting process compliance with international commitments and other obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers closely monitored election process, voter registration, the work of the election administration, election-related legislation and its implementation. The results demonstrate that Tokayev won a clear victory over six other contenders. He received 70.96 percent of the vote (6,539,715 votes) in Kazakhstan’s June 9 presidential on election results. The CEC results show that Amirzhan Kossanov of the Ult Tagdyry United National Patriotic Movement received 16.23 percent of the vote (1,495,401votes), Daniya Yespayeva of the Ak Zhol Democratic Party received 5.05 percent (465,714), Toleutai Rakhimbekov of the Auyl (Village) Party received 3.04 percent (280,451), Amangeldy Taspikhov of the Kazakh Trade Unions Federation received 1.98 percent (182,898), Zhambyl Akhmetbekov of the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan received 1.82 percent (167,649) and Sadybek Tugel of the Uly Dala Kyrandary (Eagles of the Great Steppe) Public Association received 0.92 percent (84,582).
