Preliminary turnout in the presidential elections in Kazakhstan was 69.43%

The preliminary turnout for the elections in Kazakhstan was 69.43%, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the republic Konstantin Petrov said at a briefing. Broadcast was conducted on the commission’s Youtube channel.

Out of almost 12 million people, 8.3 million people took part in the voting. The highest turnout was previously recorded in Zhetysu region (81.42%) and Kyzylorda region (81.07%), the lowest – in Mangistau region (66.99%), as well as Astana (48.6%) and Alma-Ata (28.72%).

“At this point, the Central Election Commission is completing its work today on informing about the preliminary turnout of voters, tomorrow in the morning a briefing on the preliminary results of the vote is planned,” Petrov said.

Kazakhstan is holding early presidential elections, which the current head of the republic, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, announced on September 1. Then Tokayev proposed to increase the term of office of the head of state from six years (now) to seven, eliminating the possibility of re-election. According to him, these elections will launch the electoral cycle, which will lead to a radical reset of the entire political system. The head of state also noted that this would allow in the future to concentrate on solving long-term tasks to ensure sustainable economic growth, improve the welfare and quality of life of citizens.

On October 6, Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party nominated Tokayev as a presidential candidate. Economist Meiram Kazhyken from the commonwealth of trade unions “Amanat”, the head of the association of farmers of the republic Zhiguli Dairabayev from the party “Auyl”, a representative of the opposition National Social Democratic Party Nurlan Auesbayev, human rights activist Saltanat Tursynbekova from the association “Kazakh mothers – the path to traditions” and public figure Karakat Abden, which was put forward by the national alliance of professional social workers.