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Voter turnout at Kazakhstan’s parliamentary polls exceed 75% two hours ahead of completion

Under Kazakhstan’s law, elections will be recognized as valid regardless of the voter turnout

© ITAR-TASS/Vladimir Bugaev, archive

ASTANA, March 20. /TASS/. The voter turnout at Kazkahstan’s early parliamentary elections on Sunday has exceeded 75% two hours before the end of the voting, Marat Sarsembayev, a member of the Central Election Commission, said.

"As of 18:00 local time (15:00 Moscow time), the voter turnout was 75.16% of the entire electorate," he said, adding this was a record-breaking performance.

Under Kazakhstan’s law, elections will be recognized as valid regardless of the voter turnout.

Taking part in the election campaign are six political parties: the Nur Otan (Light of the Fatherland) ruling party, the Democratic Party Ak Zhol (Bright Path), the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan, the People’s Patriotic Party Auyl (Village), the Birlik (Unity) Party and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party.

The total number of registered candidates from all parties is 234 people, including 187 men (79,9%) and 47 women (20,1%). The average age of the candidates is 52 years, and the youngest candidate is 26 years old.

The candidates compete for 98 seats in Majlis (lower parliament house). In accordance with the country’s legislation, nine more parliamentarians will be elected on March 21 at the extraordinary session of the People’s Assembly of Kazakhstan.

The vote takes place from 07:00 a.m. (04:00 a.m. Moscow time) to 20:00 (17:00 Moscow time) at 9,840 polling stations. In four western regions of the country the voting will last until 21:00 (18:00 Moscow time).

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