# How the Referendum Turnout Threshold Works

> A referendum requires participation above 50%, and the “Yes” option must prevail in at least two thirds of the regions. Final turnout on March 15, 2026 was 73.12%, so the participation threshold was met. A repeat referendum cannot be held for at least one year.

Canonical URL: https://constitution.my/p/referendum-turnout-threshold?lang=en
Language: en
Updated: 2026-07-26

Section: Referendum

## Why turnout matters

A referendum is not simply a contest among those who happened to vote. Because it concerns the whole country, participation itself becomes part of the legitimacy of the result.

That is why a minimum turnout requirement is important. It helps to:

- strengthen the legitimacy of the result
- prevent major state decisions from being made on the basis of very low participation
- show that the outcome reflects meaningful public involvement

## How the threshold works

If the legally required level of turnout is not reached, then:

- voting may still have taken place
- but the legal result may be considered insufficient
- and the proposed decision may fail to take effect

## Why this is especially important for constitutional questions

Constitutional questions should not normally be decided by a tiny and accidental portion of the electorate. A turnout requirement helps ensure that a constitutional decision is backed by broad civic participation.

## Is turnout alone enough

No. Usually, two elements matter:

1. A sufficient number of voters must participate.
2. A sufficient majority must support one option.

So both **participation** and **support** matter.

## Historical and final figures

- 1995 – turnout 90%
- 2022 – turnout **68%**
- 2026 – final turnout was **73.12%**, so the participation threshold was met

## Practical meaning

A turnout threshold encourages citizens not to treat participation as irrelevant. In a referendum, choosing not to participate can affect whether the entire process reaches legal effectiveness.

## Key Facts

- A referendum requires both turnout above 50% and majority support
- Turnout thresholds strengthen legitimacy
- They prevent fundamental decisions from resting on very low participation
- Final turnout on March 15, 2026 was 73.12% – the participation threshold was met
- Participation itself is part of the democratic meaning of a referendum

## Checked sources

- [Preliminary official results of the March 15, 2026 national referendum](https://election.gov.kz/rus/news/releases/index.php?ID=10110) – Central Referendum Commission of Kazakhstan (checked 2026-07-16)

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/referendum-turnout-threshold?lang=en
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