In Kyrgyzstan, a draft of a new constitutional law initiated by Deputy Marlen Mamataliyev of the Jogorku Kenesh is being discussed. It proposes mandatory participation of citizens in elections and referendums, as well as the introduction of a system of fines and incentives for voter turnout.
The document is available for review on the official website of the Jogorku Kenesh, where anyone interested can familiarize themselves with its content.
The draft includes amendments to three existing constitutional laws: "On the Elections of the President and Deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic," "On the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums of the Kyrgyz Republic," and "On the Referendum of the Kyrgyz Republic." One of the main innovations is the introduction of an obligation for citizens with active voting rights who are registered on the lists to participate in voting. The obligation will be considered fulfilled from the moment of receiving the ballot. It is important to note that the freedom of choice is preserved: every citizen can vote for any candidate, against all, or abstain from supporting any of the proposed options.
It is proposed to exempt the following categories of citizens from mandatory voting:
persons over 70 years old;
persons recognized as incapacitated;
citizens who are outside the country on election day;
citizens who did not appear for valid reasons (e.g., illness, natural disasters, or other emergency circumstances).
In some cases, it will be necessary to provide documentary evidence and notify the precinct commission.
For absence from voting without a valid reason, the following measures are proposed:
first case — written warning;
second case — administrative fine;
in case of systematic evasion (more than three times) — a restriction of up to five years on nominations for elected positions and holding positions in government structures and municipal bodies.
The draft law also includes incentive measures for those who voted:
discounts on payment for state and municipal services;
additional points when enrolling in the personnel reserve.
Additionally, it is proposed to issue lottery tickets along with ballots, and the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums is to organize state lotteries and prize draws, including real-time events. Interesting Facts The President expressed doubts about online voting and raised the issue of mandatory elections.
In the justification of the draft law, it is mentioned that voter turnout in Kyrgyzstan has been steadily declining over the past 15 years. For example, in the parliamentary elections of 2025, only 36.9% of voters participated, despite significant budget investments in organizing the elections.
The authors of the initiative refer to the international experience of countries with mandatory voting, such as Belgium, Australia, Turkey, Singapore, and Latin American countries, where voter turnout consistently exceeds 80-90%.
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