Turkmenistan Adopts Law on Unified State Voter Register

Turkmenistan has adopted the Law “On the Unified State Voter Register”, set to come into effect on January 1, 2026, according to Thursday’s edition of Neutral Turkmenistan (Russian language version).

The primary aim of the new legislation is to ensure accurate accounting of eligible voters and enhance the transparency and integrity of the country’s electoral processes. The Unified State Voter Register will include essential data such as surname, given name, date of birth, voting address, and other information permitted under the law. The legislation explicitly prohibits the collection of data unrelated to voter registration purposes.

The Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan will be responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the register. Local government authorities, through their authorized bodies, will manage the register at the regional level. Citizens will be entitled to apply for inclusion in the register or to update their personal information as needed.

Data from the register will serve as the basis for compiling voter lists during elections and referendums. The introduction of the digital voter register is part of broader efforts to modernize the national electoral system and expand the use of information technology in line with Turkmenistan’s digitalization strategy.

The law establishes the legal and institutional framework for the creation and maintenance of the Unified State Voter Register, encompassing all citizens of Turkmenistan eligible to participate in national elections and referendums.