Kazakhstan election: voter turnout tops 53% by midday

Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s election for the country’s new unicameral parliament, the Kurultai, exceeded 50% by 2 p.m. local time on Sunday.

According to Secretary of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission Shavkat Utemisov, 6,696,002 voters had received ballots by 2 p.m., representing 53.12% of citizens included on the voter lists.

The lowest turnout was recorded in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, at 30.36%. The highest turnout was registered in Kyzylorda Region, where 64.22% of eligible voters had cast ballots. In the capital Astana, turnout stood at 40.92%.

Kazakhstan does not have a minimum voter turnout requirement for parliamentary elections. The election is considered valid regardless of the number of citizens who participate.

Voting is being conducted exclusively through party lists. Voters can choose one of seven political parties or vote against all candidates.

The election is the first to the newly established Kurultai, a unicameral legislature created following Kazakhstan’s constitutional reforms.