The Central Commission for Elections and Referendums of the Kyrgyz Republic (CEC) has launched work to find ways to increase turnout among young people. The CEC reported this after holding a roundtable in Bishkek on the participation of young citizens in elections.

Reasons for low engagement and goals of the work

According to the CEC, the 18-35 age group makes up a significant share of the electorate — more than 42% of the total number of voters, estimated at about 1,735,000 people. Despite this potential, youth engagement in elections remains low.

Our task is not to mechanically "drive up" the turnout percentage, but to create conditions for conscious, voluntary and informed participation
Leila Lurova, Deputy Chairwoman of the CEC of the Kyrgyz Republic

In the early parliamentary elections of November 30, 2025, with overall turnout of about 36.9%, around 486,000 of nearly 1.8 million young voters cast ballots.

Areas of work and measures

During the event, participants were presented with the results of a comprehensive sociological study that identified the reasons for low electoral engagement among young people. International experience and the main barriers preventing young people from voting were also discussed.

  • Consideration of proposals to increase interest in elections for three age groups: 18 to 21, 22 to 27 and 28 to 35
  • Discussion of short-term information campaigns and long-term measures to develop civic and electoral education

Following the discussion, the development of a roadmap aimed at improving civic and electoral education is planned.

Context

The roundtable was attended by representatives who discussed how to increase young people's involvement in the electoral process, based on sociological data and international experience.