Elections are not the only tool
Voting once every five years is just the beginning. The Constitution provides a range of ways to influence decisions.
Forms of participation
Elections and referendum:
- Voting in elections to the Kurultai, maslikhats, and for akims
- Voting in a referendum
- Standing for election: from age 20 to a maslikhat, from age 25 to the Kurultai
Appeals:
- To a state body – it is obliged to respond within the prescribed period. Failure to respond is a violation of the law
- To the Constitutional Court – if a law violates your constitutional rights (free of charge, via eGov)
- To the Ombudsman – if a state body has violated your rights
Public oversight:
- Public councils attached to state bodies – participation in discussing decisions
- Peaceful assemblies – a constitutional right (notification procedure)
- Trade unions and NGOs – collective protection of interests
New and existing mechanisms:
- Khalyk Kenesi (People's Council) – 126 members, representatives of public groups with the right of legislative initiative
- Petitions – a collective-appeal process under Chapter 12-1 of the Administrative Procedural Code, not direct citizen introduction of a bill
- Digital tools – eGov as the platform for engaging with the state
What works right now
- Your district maslikhat approves the budget – for roads, schools, hospitals
- The akim of your village is elected by you (since 2021)
- The Constitutional Court annuls unconstitutional laws on a citizen's application (since 2023)
- Public councils discuss decisions before they are adopted
All of this depends on participation. The tools work when people use them.