Incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, nominated by the people’s coalition, is set to win the presidential election receiving the support of 82.45 percent of the voters, reported the Open Society International Institute for Regional Studies at midnight on Nov. 21.
The exit poll showed Meiram Kazhyken, a candidate of the Amanat Commonwealth of Trade Unions, winning 2.23 percent, National Social Democratic Party candidate Nurlan Auesbayev winning 2.17 percent, Saltanat Tursynbekova, a candidate of the Qazaq Analary – Dasturge Zhol (Kazakh mothers are a path to traditions) public association – 2.08 percent, Karakat Abden nominated by the National Alliance of Professional Social Workers – 2.54 percent, and Auyl Party candidate Zhiguli Dairabayev – 3.33 percent.
Voter turnout made 68 percent, according to the exit poll.
More than 1,600 interviewers surveyed more than 3,500 citizens outside the premises of polling stations.
According to the law, conducting public opinion polls on the premises of polling stations on the day of the election is prohibited. The organizations cannot publish the results five days before and on election day. The organizations usually announce their results immediately after the closure of polling stations across the country.
The preliminary official results are expected to be announced by Nov. 22, at a time to be determined by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
There were 10,101 polling stations in the country, including 68 polling stations across 53 countries.
69.43 percent of Kazakhstan’s eligible voters participated in the country’s presidential election on Nov. 20 as of 10 p.m. local Astana time, announced the Central Election Commission (CEC) at a press briefing on Nov. 20.
Polling stations closed throughout the country at 8 p.m. local Astana time. In the country’s five regions – Aktobe, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda and Mangystau, the voting was completed at 9 p.m. local Astana time due to the time zone difference.
The highest voter turnout is in the Zhetisu Region, 81.42 percent, while the lowest is in the city of Almaty, 28.72 percent. Almaty, a former capital and major business and financial center, showed low turnout at the 2019 presidential election as well.
Some polling stations at Kazakhstan’s diplomatic and consular posts abroad continue their work. As of 7 p.m. Astana time, the voter turnout abroad was 57.5 percent with nearly 7,400 people out of 12,841 registered casting their vote, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
Overall, there were 10,101 polling stations across Kazakhstan, including 68 at the country’s foreign missions in 53 countries. 11,950,485 voters were registered to vote.
A CEC statement on the final voter turnout is expected to be released tomorrow, Nov. 21 and final election results are expected by Nov. 22.
In total, 641 international observers, including 532 observers from 10 international organizations and 109 observers from 35 foreign countries, have been accredited by the CEC to observe the election.
Three public institutions – the Amanat Party Public Policy Institute, Institute of Complex Social Research, and Open Society International Institute for Regional Studies, conducted an exit poll and the results are expected at midnight on Nov. 21.
By Assel Satubaldina and Zhanna Shayakhmetova for the Astana Times.
