Kazakhstan is the first in CIS and Central Asia to hold such a referendum, Erlan Karin
Kazakhstan's State Counselor Erlan Karin took his vote at the nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan at polling place No. 164 in Astana, Kazinform News Agency reports.
He said Kazakhstan is the first and the only country in CIS and Central Asia to hold such a referendum that demonstrates the widening of a dialogue between the citizens, society and state. He stressed it shows a new stage in the development of the sociopolitical dialogue and is a landmark moment in the formation of a new political culture.
Karin said today’s referendum puts on vote an important issue that will determine the vector for the country’s further development, and outline long-term issues and plans for coming decades.
As earlier reported, polling stations in Seoul and Tokyo were the first to open at 07:00 am local time.
74 polling stations were opened at the diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in 59 countries.
12,244,683 individuals are eligible to participate in the vote today, as per the republican referendum law.
200 foreign journalists from 37 countries, as well as 177 observers from 30 foreign nations and 4 international organizations, have been accredited for the referendum.
The vote will be accepted at all polling stations simultaneously, precisely at 20:00 pm. The results of the voting will be disclosed within seven days.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, established the date of the referendum on the NPP for October 6, 2024, and signed a decree on its holding on September 2, 2024. Following this, a press conference was conducted at the Central Election Commission to discuss the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power facility. Representatives of the Central Election Commission provided an explanation of the referendum's procedures during the conference.