2015 Presidential Election

Floods

Unprecedented flooding occurred in parts of Kazakhstan in the spring of 2015. This event affected residents of 17 districts in Akmola, Pavlodar, Karaganda and North Kazakhstan regions (Bayanov 2015). While these areas are generally known to be flood-prone (Tengri News 2015), an unusually speedy snowmelt combined with rapid warming escalated the situation. As of 23 April 2015, no casualties directly linked to the flooding were recorded but 15 thousand people were displaced, and damage was inflicted on livestock and houses (Bayanov 2015). 

Impact on electoral processes 

In response to two instances of flooding at the end of March and the beginning of April respectively, the authorities launched extensive rescue operations (Bayanov 2015). According to several sources, by the time of the presidential elections, held on 26 April 2015, resettled residents had started to return to their homes (Bayanov 2015; Tengri News 2015; Veber 2015). Although the precise impact of the floods on the conduct of elections as well as the actual turnout rate is unclear, some residents of Chkalovo village in Karaganda region indicated that they did not need to go to the polling stations, as members of the electoral commission brought ballot boxes directly to their homes instead (Veber 2015).