Kazakhstan votes for Tokayev

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Kazakhstan

Astana, November 20, 2022 (TDI):  According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), over 8 million citizens cast their ballots, a voter turnout of 69.43%.

According to initial results, Kazakhstan’s interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has won 70.13% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential election, according to an exit poll by local pollster Kogamdyk Pikir Institute.

Voting took place at 10,101 polling stations across the country, including 68 polling stations at 53 diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan around the world.   Voting ended in a Kazakhstan presidential election after most polls closed at 20:00 local time.

 

Kazakhstan

Six candidates participated in the election, including incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. After casting his vote, Tokayev told journalists: “Today is an important, historic day. We are voting for a bright future for our country.”

Noting that the country is facing very ambitious goals and tasks, he added that “there is a lot of work to be done. Political reforms are being carried out. A nationwide referendum was held in the summer. The early presidential election is taking place today. This work will be continued.”

Preliminary election results are expected to be announced on November 21 

641 observers from international organizations and foreign states were accredited by the Central Election Commission, including the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In addition, a total of 254 foreign journalists were accredited to cover the election. 

In line with recent constitutional changes, the elected head of state will serve a 7-year term without the right to re-election (previously two 5-year terms).