MOSCOW, February 15 (Itar-Tass) —— Moscow’s city election commission expects a turnout exceeding 60 percent in the presidential polls on March 4 in the capital city.
“I think the turnout will be slightly more than 60 percent,” chairman of the Moscow city election commission Valentin Gorbunov told journalists on Wednesday. Traditionally, he noted, the highest turnout in the capital city is when the country elects the head of state. “Then come elections to the State Duma lower parliament house, and then elections of the regional level, and the lowest turnout is at municipal elections,” he said. He also recalled that the turnout at the parliamentary elections of December 4, 2011 was 61 percent, and at the last presidential elections of 2008 – 66-67 percent.
On March 4, 2012, as many as 3,387 polling stations will be opened throughout the city, of which 3,180 will work in an open mode. Another 207 polling stations will be organized at places of temporary accommodation, such as hospitals and detention wards. Polling stations will be also organized at seven Moscow railway terminals, and one more – at the Vnukovo airport.
“As of now all district elections commissions have been formed, numbering more than 43,000 members. They began working on February 13,” Gorbunov noted.