LUGANSK, September 27. /TASS/. The interim turnout rate at the referendum to join Russia exceeded 90% in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) as of midday on Tuesday, the republic’s election chief Yelena Kravchenko told TASS.

"As of 12:00 am Moscow time, the interim turnout hit 90.64%. All the 461 polling stations are open, with just three out of them having been moved to alternative locations for security reasons amid shelling," Kravchenko said, adding that she had already cast her vote.

Voting has been running smoothly, the LPR’s chief electoral officer assured.

In an interview with TASS earlier, she said with confidence that the results of the referendum vote would be available by the end of Tuesday.

The highest turnout rates were in Lugansk. There was a high percent of those who voted for the LPR’s accession to Russia in the city, Artyom Yarmov at the Social Marketing Institute told TASS, citing exit polls.