A draft constitutional law proposing mandatory participation of citizens in elections and referendums, as well as a system of penalties and incentives for voter turnout, has been submitted for public discussion in Kyrgyzstan. The bill was initiated by Zhogorku Kenesh deputy Marlen Mamataliev.
The draft has been published on the official website of the Parliament for public discussion.
According to the document, amendments are proposed to three constitutional laws: On the Election of the President and Deputies of the Zhogorku 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.
The key innovation is the introduction of a duty to participate in voting for citizens who have active voting rights and are included in voter lists. This obligation would be considered fulfilled once a voter receives a ballot.
At the same time, the draft emphasizes that freedom of choice remains absolute: a citizen may vote for any candidate, vote «against all,» or choose not to support any option.
The following categories would be exempt from mandatory participation in elections and referendums:
- citizens over 70;
- persons declared legally incapacitated;
- citizens who are outside Kyrgyzstan on voting day;
- citizens unable to attend for valid reasons (illness, natural disasters, service duties, or other emergency circumstances).
In certain cases, documentary proof and notification of the precinct election commission would be required.
For failure to participate in voting without valid reasons, the following measures are proposed:
- a first offense — an official written warning;
- a repeated offense — an administrative fine;
- systematic evasion (three or more times) — a temporary restriction for up to five years on running for elected office and holding positions in state and municipal service.
The draft law also provides incentive measures for those who vote:
- discounts or benefits when paying for state and municipal services;
- additional points when being included in the personnel reserve.
In addition, it is proposed that a lottery ticket be issued together with the ballot, and that the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums organize state lotteries and prize draws, including in real time.
The background statement says that voter turnout in Kyrgyzstan has been steadily declining over the past 15 years. For example, only 36.9 percent of voters cast ballots in the 2025 parliamentary elections, despite significant budgetary expenditures on organizing the elections.
The authors of the initiative cite the international experience of countries with compulsory voting—Belgium, Australia, Turkey, Singapore, and Latin American countries—where turnout consistently exceeds 80–90 percent.
