{"faq_id":"21e17134-46b9-47d7-9394-803c4e43d6bb","code":"referendum-campaigning-rules","kind":"faq","canonical_slug":"referendum-campaigning-rules","section":{"id":12,"code":"referendum","slug":"referendum","title":"Referendum"},"lang":"en","question":"What Campaigning Rules Apply Before the Referendum","short_answer":"Campaigning is permitted from 12 February to 13 March – both 'For' and 'Against' on equal terms. 14 March is a day of silence: no campaigning. 15 March is polling day. Prohibited: vote-buying, coercion, abuse of official position. These rules apply online as well.","blocks":{"answer_html":"<h2>Campaigning period</h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Period</th>\n<th>What is allowed</th>\n</tr>\n</thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>12 February – 13 March</strong></td>\n<td>Campaigning permitted: 'For', 'Against', calls to vote</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>14 March (day of silence)</strong></td>\n<td>Campaigning <strong>prohibited</strong> – a day for quiet reflection</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>15 March (polling day)</strong></td>\n<td>Campaigning <strong>prohibited</strong></td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<h2>Who may campaign</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Citizens – personally and through the media</li>\n<li>Political parties</li>\n<li>Public organisations</li>\n<li>Initiative groups</li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong>Who may not:</strong> foreign nationals, members of electoral commissions, civil servants in the performance of their duties, military personnel, religious organisations.</p>\n<h2>What is permitted</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Public events, rallies, debates</li>\n<li>Printed materials – leaflets, posters</li>\n<li>Campaigning in the media and online</li>\n<li>Positions 'For' and 'Against' are on <strong>completely equal terms</strong></li>\n</ul>\n<h2>What is prohibited</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Vote-buying</li>\n<li>Threats and coercion</li>\n<li>Abuse of official position</li>\n<li>Distribution of knowingly false information</li>\n<li>Campaigning on the day of silence and on polling day</li>\n</ul>\n<p>A violation is an administrative offence carrying specific penalties.</p>\n<h2>The day of silence – why it exists</h2>\n<p>14 March is the day when you make your decision without pressure. No campaigning: not in the media, not on social networks, not on the street. This is standard international practice.</p>\n","facts_html":"<ul>\n<li>Campaigning: 12 February – 13 March; 'For' and 'Against' on equal terms</li>\n<li>Day of silence: 14 March – campaigning prohibited</li>\n<li>Prohibited: vote-buying, coercion, abuse of official position</li>\n<li>The rules apply online – violations are punishable</li>\n</ul>\n","what_not_change_html":"","where_detailed_html":"","misconceptions_html":""},"updated_at":"2026-06-16T00:00:00+00:00","article_refs":[{"number":23,"title":"Freedom of Information"},{"number":34,"title":"Peaceful Assembly"},{"number":35,"title":"Referendum Participation"}],"entity_links":[{"type":"constitutional_article","number":23,"label":"Article 23","title":"Freedom of Information","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-23"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":34,"label":"Article 34","title":"Peaceful Assembly","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-34"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":35,"label":"Article 35","title":"Referendum Participation","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-35"}],"source_records":[{"id":"referendum-results-2026","type":"referendum_authority","url":"https://election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10110","title":"Preliminary official results of the March 15, 2026 national referendum","publisher":"Central Referendum Commission of Kazakhstan","checked_at":"2026-07-16","reviewed_at":"2026-07-18","checked_at_label":"16 July 2026"}],"verified_claims":[],"implementation_status":null,"source_schema_records":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Preliminary official results of the March 15, 2026 national referendum","url":"https://election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10110","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Central Referendum Commission of Kazakhstan"},"dateModified":"2026-07-16"}],"source_citation_urls":["https://election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10110"]}