On January 19, 2025 elections for rural district akims were held in three districts of Zhambyl Region—Baizak, Zhambyl, and Sarysu. The high voter turnout reflected strong public interest in local governance and decision-making.
Baiterek Rural District, Baizak District
A total of 1 508 registered voters were eligible to participate, with 801 people casting their votes. Additionally, 7 voters cast their ballots outside the polling stations.
Three candidates competed in the election. The results were as follows:
• One candidate received 49 votes.
• The leading candidate secured 601 votes, ensuring a decisive victory.
• The third candidate gained 68 votes.
• 79 voters chose the “Against All” option.
The elected akim is a 1981-born candidate who had previously held this position. He resides in Kokbastau village, Baizak District.
Aishabibi Rural District, Zhambyl District
This district had 3 436 registered voters, with a turnout of 2 218 voters. Additionally, 28 people voted outside the polling station.
The election results among three candidates were as follows:
• The winning candidate received 1 339 votes.
• The closest rival secured 763 votes.
• The third candidate obtained 79 votes.
• 15 voters chose the “Against All” option.
The elected akim is a 1984-born candidate, who had also served in this role before. He resides in Taraz city.
Turkestan Rural District, Sarysu District
In this district, 690 people were registered as voters, and 454 participated in the election. Additionally, 74 people voted outside the polling station.
The election was contested between two candidates:
• One received 38 votes.
• The winner secured 393 votes, achieving a clear victory.
• 9 voters selected the “Against All” option.
The newly elected akim is a 1967-born candidate who previously worked as the director of a career center for labor mobility in Sarysu District. He resides in A. Burkitbayev village.
Election Analysis
Voter participation was high across all three districts:
• Turkestan Rural District – 65.7%
• Aishabibi Rural District – 64.6%
• Baiterek Rural District – 53.1%
These figures indicate a strong engagement in local elections and governance.
All elected akims are men, which reflects the continued male dominance in local leadership. However, in other districts, women have begun to hold leadership positions, suggesting a gradual shift toward gender balance in governance.
The election results show a significant lead by the winning candidates:
• In Baiterek, the winner received 601 out of 801 votes.
• In Aishabibi, the elected akim secured 1 339 out of 2 218 votes.
• In Turkestan, the victor gained 393 out of 454 votes.
This suggests either strong public trust in these candidates or a lack of strong competition in some districts. Additionally, the relatively low number of “Against All” votes indicates that most voters were satisfied with the available choices.
The elections in Zhambyl Region saw high voter participation and decisive results. All elected akims had previous experience in leadership positions, showing that voters tend to prefer proven and experienced officials. Moving forward, it will be important to observe whether these elected officials meet public expectations and drive positive changes in their districts.