The Election Campaign Has Kicked off in Turkmenistan: Who Will Be Elected and When?
Ashgabat, January 15 | ORIENT. The Central Commission for Elections and Referendums officially approved the calendar of events at a meeting. The election campaign officially kicked off in the country on January 15.
The single voting day is scheduled for Sunday, March 29. On this day, voters will elect local government bodies and complete the country's parliamentary corps. The elections will be held in the following formats:
In the newly formed etraps: the formation of Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Councils) in the administrative units of the Akhal, Dashoguz, Lebap, and Mary velayats.
By-elections to the Mejlis: filling seats in four electoral districts:
o No. 74 "Amyderya" and No. 79 "Darganata" (Lebap);
o No. 104 "Peshanaly" and No. 106 "Wekil" (Mary).
Local government: elections of members of velayat, etrap, and city people's councils and gengeshes due to the early expiration of their terms.
At the CEC meeting, it was emphasized that the 2026 campaign will be conducted under the banner of maximum transparency.
For the first time, the potential of updated legislation, including provisions on the Unified State Register of Voters (which entered into force on January 1, 2026), will be fully utilized.
District commissions have already begun refining the boundaries of polling stations. A series of training seminars on international election standards is planned for commission members at all levels. The Central Election Commission placed particular emphasis on ensuring a broad range of candidates from all political parties and citizen groups.
