Kazakhstan's parliamentary election turnout surpasses 72% - Update

Voter turnout in Kazakhstan's election to the Qurultay, the country's unicameral parliament, has surpassed 72%, according to Secretary of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan Shavkat Utemisov, Report informs.

"By 06:00 pm local time, 9,095,298 voters across the country had received ballots, accounting for 72.15% of voters included in the electoral rolls," he said.

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As of 04:00 pm, the voter turnout in the Qurultay deputy elections reached 65.37%, announced Assel Zhanabilova, a member of Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission, Qazinform News Agency reports.

Astana – 46,38%

Abai region – 71,18%

Akmola region – 73,69%

Aktobe region – 75,63%

Almaty region – 67,23%

Atyrau region – 63,37%

West Kazakhstan region – 61,81%

Zhambyl region – 69,11%

Zhetysu region – 77,03%

Karaganda region – 70,91%

Kostanay region – 70,09%

Kyzylorda region – 81,38%

Mangystau region – 65,86%

Pavlodar region – 67,06%

North Kazakhstan region – 63,94%

Turkistan region – 76,73%

Ulytau region – 64,29%

East Kazakhstan region – 79,33%

Almaty city – 36,65%

Shymkent – 67,92%

The next update on voter turnout at polling stations will be released at 06:00 pm.

As it was reported, Kazakhstan's first-ever elections for deputies of the country's new unicameral Qurultay began on August 23. Polling stations opened across the country, with voting set to continue until 8:00 pm.

Kazakhstanis are voting for one of seven political parties participating in the elections. Following the vote, seats in the Qurultay will be distributed among the parties that surpass the legally established threshold.