Elections in Uzbekistan: 2024 Parliamentary and Local Elections

Uzbekistan’s parliamentary and local elections will take place on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time at 10,717 polling stations across Uzbekistan and at 57 voting locations in 40 countries internationally.

Voters who will not be at their places of residence on Election Day may vote early. Early voting opens 10 days before Election Day (October 16) and closes three days before Election Day (October 23). Voters must apply to vote early and indicate why they will not be able to vote on Election Day. 

The Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan consists of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate. Each is headed by a chair who cannot serve more than two consecutive terms. The role of the Oliy Majlis as a coequal branch of government has been a focus of political reforms initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2016. As the legislative branch of Uzbekistan’s government, the Oliy Majlis adopts laws, determines the principles for domestic and foreign policy, proposes amendments to the Constitution, approves the state budget, schedules elections, appoints or confirms certain officials, ratifies and denounces international treaties, exercises certain controls, and serves an official check-and-balance function over the executive branch. For the first time in the upcoming elections, deputies will be elected to the Legislative Chamber under a mixed (majoritarian-proportional) electoral system. That system was introduced on May 1, 2023, following a constitutional referendum and amendments to the Election Code; it was adopted on December 18, 2023. Half of the 150 seats will be selected through majoritarian elections, and the remaining 75 seats will be allocated proportionally. 

The new mixed electoral system and increase in the gender quota from 30 to 40 percent present opportunities to expand the representation of various groups in the Legislative Chamber. Following the adoption of the new Constitution on May 1, 2023 and amendments to the electoral legal framework on December 18, 2023, elected members will be expected to take on an increasingly significant role under the Constitution and as part of the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy. Consequently, this year’s elections will be an important indicator of Uzbekistan’s political trajectory over the next several years related to political pluralism and public engagement in decision-making. 

Furthermore, for the first time in the country's election history, electronic voting systems will be piloted. On October 12, the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution to test an electronic voting process on Election Day at select polling stations located in Tashkent. Thirty-seven e-voting devices will be installed in 10 polling stations of Tashkent. At polling stations where electronic voting will be tested, voters have the right to independently choose traditional (paper) or electronic voting.

A total of 29,314 candidates will participate in the upcoming elections: 874 for seats in Parliament and 28,440 for mandates in Tashkent city and regional councils, including electoral districts within Karakalpakstan. Of the 150 parliamentary seats, 75 will be elected from party lists (ranging from 75 to 100 nominees) and the other 75 as candidates of single-member constituencies. A total of 374 candidates are running in single-member constituencies (189 men and 185 women), and a total of 500 candidates are included on party lists from Uzbekistan’s five registered political parties (294 men and 206 women). Of the 28,440 candidates running for Tashkent, city council and Karakalpakstan elections, 12,073 are women. The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that 11 candidates with disabilities are contesting for election to the Legislative Chamber, and 605 for seats in local elections. 

The ballot paper for the election of deputies of the Legislative Chamber in a single election district will present the names and symbols of the political parties taking part in the elections in the order in which they were admitted for participation: 

• The Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan; 

• The Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Democratic Party of Uzbekistan; 

• The Ecological Party of Uzbekistan; 

• The People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan; and 

• The Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party.

Uzbekistan is a presidential republic; the president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. Most executive and decision-making functions are vested in the president, who shares legislative power with the bicameral Parliament, the Oliy Majlis. The Parliament comprises two chambers, the 65-member Senate and the Legislative Chamber, with 150 members. All members serve five-year terms.

The upcoming elections will be held under a new, mixed electoral system that follows the adoption of a Constitution that was substantially revised in 2023 and includes amendments to the electoral legislation. During the upcoming elections, 75 seats will be filled through first-past-the-post voting in single-mandate constituencies, and the other 75 will be elected proportionally through closed party lists. In addition, recent legislative amendments include updated formation rules for the Central Election Commission, introducing a new level of territorial election commissions; revising the registration requirements for party lists; and raising the gender quota from 30 percent to 40 percent. The number of senators was decreased from 100 to 65, and further changes were made concerning local elections.

If voter turnout is below 33 percent, elections will be declared invalid and must be repeated (repeat elections are not subject to a turnout requirement). Legislative Chamber elections in single electoral districts are also considered invalid if none of the political parties participating in such elections receive at least 7 percent of total votes.

To run for a seat in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, a candidate must be a citizen who is at least 25 years of age and has resided permanently in Uzbekistan for at least five years prior to Election Day. Following the recent electoral amendments, political parties can nominate candidates in a nationwide constituency through a closed list, in addition to single-mandate constituencies. There are no provisions for independent candidates or electoral coalitions to run within single-mandate constituencies. A political party may nominate candidates no later than four months before the announcement of the start of the election campaign and must collect at least 40,000 signatures of voters to support their participation in the elections.

Among those ineligible to run are citizens with unexpunged or unremoved criminal records for committing certain serious crimes, citizens who have not permanently resided in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the last five years before Election Day, members of the clergy, and active military personnel. 

Citizens who have reached 21 years of age by Election Day and have resided permanently in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for at least five years have the right to be elected as deputies of local Kengashes. To nominate candidates for local Kengashes, a political party must submit the required documents to the relevant territorial, district, city election commission at least 70 days before the elections.

The recent modifications to the Constitution and the Election Code include a quota introduced to the national legal framework. The quota specifies that 40 percent of candidates running on party lists for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis must be women. It also requires the inclusion of at least two women out of every five candidates on the closed party list. Furthermore, 40 percent of candidates running for majoritarian elections must be women. 

For the 2024 elections, women constitute 44.74 percent of candidates running for the parliamentary elections and 42.45 percent of those running for local council seats. The 40 percent quota applicable for parliamentary and local elections is an increase from 30 percent under the previous legislation.  

Elections in Uzbekistan are administered by the Central Election Commission (CEC). The CEC is formed by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and consists of nine permanent, full-time members, one of whom must be a representative of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Previously, the Election Code allowed the appointment of up to 21 CEC members, including some serving voluntarily. The CEC appoints a chairperson from among its members for a five-year term. The chair can hold this position for no more than two consecutive terms.

The Election Code charges the CEC with, among other responsibilities, managing and supporting lower-level commissions, forming election constituencies and overseas polling stations, issuing mandates to international observers, developing and distributing election budgets, and considering appeals from voters and other election stakeholders. Following the adoption of amendments to the Constitution in 2023, the CEC has the authority to administer local elections in addition to presidential and parliamentary elections.  

The recent amendments modified the structure of the election administration by replacing the 14 district election commissions (DECs) with new territorial election commissions (TECs). With this change, the DECs are now responsible only for local elections. TECs will oversee presidential and parliamentary elections and referendums within their territories, form lower-level electoral commissions, and tabulate voting results. Precinct election commissions (PECs) of five to 19 members organize and conduct voting and counting. TECs appoint PEC members no later than 40 days before Election Day based on proposals from local councils that receive nominations from Mahallas, semi-formal neighborhood councils regulated by the government; public associations; and other organizations. No single organization may nominate more than half of the members for a specific PEC. Political parties are not entitled to nominate commission members.

All citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan over the age of 18 have the right to vote under the Constitution, as amended in 2023. Amendments approved by referendum in April 2023 removed restrictions on the right to vote for prisoners and citizens whom a court declared incapacitated or disabled. 

Voter registration in Uzbekistan is passive; citizens who are 18 or will turn 18 on or before Election Day are automatically added to the voter list for their territory of residence. Separate lists are created for military units, diplomatic missions, permanent medical facilities, and detention facilities. Voters can check their personal information, find out which voter list they are on, and determine their designated polling station by checking the Central Election Commission’s website. For the 2024 parliamentary and local elections, approximately 19,826,858 people are registered to vote (9,136,191 men and 10,690,667 women).

International organizations, domestic political parties, and media representatives are entitled to observe the elections, as are representatives of Mahallas – semi-formal neighborhood councils regulated by the government. There are no provisions in the  Election Code for observation of Election Day proceedings by domestic non-governmental organizations or citizen observers. 

Organizations interested in observing must apply to the Central Election Commission (CEC) at least 10 days before the elections. Within five days of the receipt of an application, the CEC will decide whether to issue the organization and its members a mandate for observation. Qualifying observers may be present at meetings of the CEC, district election commissions, and precinct election commissions; may observe preparations for voting at polling stations, as well as voting and vote counting processes on Election Day; and are entitled to receive certified copies of election results protocols. 

As of October 19, 325 international observers from 25 countries and international organizations have been accredited, including 236 short-term observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, 13 observers from other international organizations and 76 observers representing foreign states. In addition, 97 media representatives of 82 media outlets from 37 foreign countries have been accredited to observe the elections.

Upon receiving protocols from all territorial election commissions, the Central Election Commission (CEC) must adopt a resolution and announce the confirmed results within 10 days from Election Day – in this case, before November 6, 2024. The announcement must be published through the CEC website and other government and media channels.

• Constitution of Uzbekistan 

• Central Election Commission 

• E-Saylov information platform  

• Election Code of Uzbekistan 

• The Law on Financing of Political Parties - https://lex.uz/en/docs/168377  

• Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Needs Assessment Mission Report  

• Uzbekistan’s Political Reforms and Elections – 2024 (Development Strategy Center) 

• Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy (Development Strategy Center) 

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) recently implemented programming in Uzbekistan from 2021 through 2024 to support the Central Election Commission and civil society stakeholders. Through its assistance activities, IFES has helped strengthen the capacity of election officials to administer open and inclusive elections and foster the accessibility of the civic process for all citizens of Uzbekistan. Through its work with civil society organizations, IFES engaged young people, women, and persons with disabilities in civic advocacy and helped them assert their rights as equal citizens to build a culture of inclusive decision-making and informed civic participation. 

These FAQs reflect decisions made by the Central Election Commission as of October 22, 2024, to the best of our knowledge. This document does not represent any International Foundation for Electoral Systems policy or technical recommendations.