MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Turnout in Kazakhstan’s first elections to the new unicameral parliament, the Qurultay, reached 65.37 per cent by 4 pm local time (1100 GMT) on Sunday, surpassing the turnout recorded in the last parliamentary elections in 2023, the Central Election Commission said.
CEC member Assel Zhanabilova said 8,240,336 voters cast their ballots, representing 65.37 per cent of those registered to vote,” Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
Turnout varied significantly across the country, she noted.
Almaty, the country's largest city, recorded the lowest rate at 36.65 per cent , while the highest turnout was reported in the Kyzylorda region at 81.38 per cent.
In the capital Astana, 46.38 per cent of registered voters cast ballots, according to CEC data.
Turnout in the 2023 elections to Kazakhstan’s lower house, the Mazhilis, was 54.21 per cent.
The Aug 23 vote is the first parliamentary election held under the new Constitution, adopted in a referendum earlier this year.
The new document abolished the previous bicameral parliament and replaced it with a 145-member unicameral Qurultay.
All 145 seats are being contested through party lists, with voters choosing among seven registered political parties.
There is no minimum turnout threshold for parliamentary elections, meaning the vote is considered valid regardless of the number of voters who participate.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU