{"faq_id":"78d8a20e-b5b4-450c-ae63-ee72300c3a69","code":"referendum-what-is","kind":"faq","canonical_slug":"referendum-what-is","section":{"id":12,"code":"referendum","slug":"referendum","title":"Referendum"},"lang":"en","question":"What Is a Referendum","short_answer":"A referendum is a nationwide vote with direct legal force. Every citizen aged 18 and over votes personally and in secret. Three conditions must be met: turnout above 50%, a majority of 'Yes' votes, and 'Yes' in at least 2/3 of regions. The result is binding – it can only be reversed by another referendum.","blocks":{"answer_html":"<h2>What a referendum is</h2>\n<p>The most direct form of democracy. Not a deputy deciding on your behalf – you decide yourself.</p>\n<p><strong>How it works:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>The state puts a question to a vote</li>\n<li>Every citizen aged 18 and over goes to a polling station</li>\n<li>They vote <strong>'Yes'</strong> or <strong>'No'</strong> – in secret, in person</li>\n<li>The result carries <strong>direct legal force</strong></li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Three conditions for recognition</h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Condition</th>\n<th>Requirement</th>\n<th>What happens if not met</th>\n</tr>\n</thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Turnout</td>\n<td>More than 50% of voters</td>\n<td>The referendum is deemed not to have taken place</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Majority</td>\n<td>More than 50% of those who voted – 'Yes'</td>\n<td>The decision is not adopted</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Regional threshold</td>\n<td>'Yes' in ≥2/3 of regions, cities of republican significance, and the capital</td>\n<td>The decision is not adopted</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>All three conditions must be met simultaneously. If even one is not satisfied – the decision <strong>is not adopted</strong>.</p>\n<h2>Legal force</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The result is <strong>binding</strong> across the entire territory of Kazakhstan</li>\n<li>It can only be reversed by <strong>another referendum</strong></li>\n<li>Neither the President, nor parliament, nor a court can review the result</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Kazakhstan's referendums</h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Year</th>\n<th>Question</th>\n<th>'Yes'</th>\n<th>Turnout</th>\n</tr>\n</thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1995</td>\n<td>Adoption of the Constitution</td>\n<td>89%</td>\n<td>90%</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2022</td>\n<td>56 amendments to the Constitution</td>\n<td>77%</td>\n<td>68%</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2026</td>\n<td>New Constitution</td>\n<td>87.15%</td>\n<td>73.12%</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n","facts_html":"<ul>\n<li>A referendum is a nationwide vote with direct legal force</li>\n<li>Three conditions: turnout &gt;50%, majority 'Yes', 'Yes' in ≥2/3 of regions</li>\n<li>The result is binding; it can only be reversed by another referendum</li>\n<li>Kazakhstan's history: 1995 (89% 'Yes'), 2022 (77% 'Yes', 68% turnout), 2026 – 15 March</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":4,"title":"Nationwide Referendum"},{"number":35,"title":"Right to Participate in Referendum"},{"number":92,"title":"Referendum Validity Conditions"}],"entity_links":[{"type":"constitutional_article","number":4,"label":"Article 4","title":"Nationwide Referendum","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-4"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":35,"label":"Article 35","title":"Right to Participate in Referendum","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-35"},{"type":"constitutional_article","number":92,"label":"Article 92","title":"Referendum Validity Conditions","href":"/full-text?lang=en#article-92"}],"source_records":[{"id":"constitution-2026-official","type":"constitution","url":"https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000","title":"Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan","publisher":"Adilet Legal Information System","checked_at":"2026-07-16","reviewed_at":"2026-07-18","checked_at_label":"16 July 2026"},{"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":"Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan","url":"https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Adilet Legal Information System"},"dateModified":"2026-07-16"},{"@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://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000","https://election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10110"]}