President Nazarbayev has been in power for more than 20 years The man who has ruled Kazakhstan for more than 20 years, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is standing for re-election – with a strong likelihood that he will win again.
Under constitutional changes made in 2007, Mr Nazarbayev is allowed to stand as many times as he wishes.
The main opposition parties say they were not given enough time to prepare for the presidential election.
They say the contest is unfair and have called for a boycott.
This snap presidential election was called less than two months ago by Mr Nazarbayev.
Opposition parties say they were left no time to prepare for the race.
But critics say the opposition has proved its weakness in having no single strong candidate capable of challenging Mr Nazarbayev.
After more than 20 years in power, Mr Nazarbayev, 70, is running again because constitutional amendments introduced in 2007 allow him to stand for the presidency as many times as he wishes.
Three other candidates are standing in the election: environmentalist Mels Yeleusizov; Gani Kasymov of the Party of Patriots of Kazakhstan; and Zhambyl Akhmetbekov of the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan.
The main question about this vote is not who will win, but how many people will turn up, says the BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie in the main city of Almaty.
Campaigning for this election has been low-key; the most organised and visible being by the main pro-presidential party Nur Otan, our correspondent says.
With no real competition, Mr Nazarbayev is almost certain to win, she adds.
So far the government’s efforts have been focused on ensuring voter turnout. In an election where the outcome is easily predictable, many see no point in casting their votes.
No elections in Kazakhstan have ever been judged as free and fair by independent monitors.
“We have not had fair elections in 20 years,” said former Senate member and current human rights leader Zauresh Battalova.
The first official results are expected early on Monday.
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