Myth: “Everything changes the next day after the referendum”

No. Citizens voted on March 15. The Constitution was approved, but the entire legal system does not transform overnight. Implementation requires a transitional period, legal alignment, and institutional adaptation – the Constitution enters into force on 1 July 2026.

Myths 1 min read 📄
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Why this myth appears

People often imagine a referendum as a one-day switch: voting happens, and the next morning the whole country is already operating under a fully transformed system. Constitutional reality is more gradual.

What actually happens

If the constitutional project is approved, the next steps usually include:

  • official confirmation of the result
  • promulgation of the text
  • determination of the entry-into-force rules
  • transitional arrangements
  • revision of ordinary laws
  • adaptation of institutions and procedures

Why this takes time

A Constitution is the framework of the legal system. If it changes:

  • powers may be redistributed
  • new institutions may appear
  • old procedures may need revision
  • laws may need to be brought into conformity

None of this is completed in one day.

Example of gradual implementation

If a constitutional reform introduces new institutions or new rights, then:

  • sectoral legislation must be updated
  • administrative practice must adjust
  • state bodies must learn to operate under the new rules

Main idea

A referendum is often the starting point of change, not the final step. Political approval and legal implementation are two different stages.

Key facts

  • The referendum took place on 15 March 2026; the Constitution enters into force on 1 July 2026
  • Constitutional change does not become fully operational overnight
  • Approval of the text is only one stage
  • Legal alignment and institutional adaptation follow
  • Implementation is gradual rather than immediate
Related questions

Myth: “If a referendum has only one question, there is no real choice”

A single-question referendum is not automatically fake, invalid, or meaningless. If the issue submitted is a unified constitutional project, one question can reflect a yes-or-no decision on the project as a whole. The key issue is not the number of questions but whether citizens have enough information to make an informed choice.

Myth: “Boycott is the strongest political response”

A boycott is not always the strongest strategy. According to the CEC, turnout reached 70.98% – the 50% threshold was exceeded. 87.15% voted in favor. The Constitution was adopted.

Myth: 'If the Constitution Was Adopted by Referendum, It Must Be Perfect'

A referendum confers legitimacy – but not perfection. The US Constitution began by enshrining slavery. Kazakhstan's 1995 Constitution required 56 amendments in 2022. Every constitution is a compromise. That is precisely why the 2026 Constitution builds in mechanisms for renewal: the Constitutional Court, amendments, and the Khalyk Kenesi.

Myth: 'The Constitution Doesn't Work Anyway, So What's Written in It Doesn't Matter'

The claim that 'the Constitution doesn't work' is a common myth. Since 2023, the Constitutional Court has accepted dozens of applications from ordinary citizens and struck down several unconstitutional provisions. Applications are free and submitted via eGov. The Constitution works – when people use it.