Voting in NPP construction referendum of Kazakhstan begins in Türkiye

A nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant started in Kazakhstan today, October 6. Three polling stations also opened in Türkiye, Kazinform News Agency reports.

photo: QAZINFORM

Polling places No. 418, 387 and 428 were established at diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in Türkiye. Voting started there at 07:00 am local time (09:00 am Astana time). The polling stations are open until 08:00 pm. The majority of voters are Kazakh students and Kazakhstanis staying there.

Photo credit: Kazinform

Over 1,000 people are expected to vote in Ankara, and some 2,000 in Istanbul and Antalya.

As earlier reported, the nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant started in Kazakhstan today, October 6. The Head of State cast his ballot in the nationwide referendum.

Polling stations in Seoul and Tokyo were the first to open at 07:00 am local time.

74 polling places were established in 59 countries with 12,307 voters in total. As of 08:15 am, 26 district commissions of the referendum abroad started their work. 48 more are expected to open.

Polling stations in the Middle East and Europe are set to begin their work soon. Voting places in Washington, New York and Ottawa are the last to open their doors at 04:00 pm Astana time and at 08:00 pm in San Francisco.

The primary question that is put to the vote is: "Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?" Kazakhstanis will have the option of selecting either "Yes, I agree" or "No, I disagree." The ballots are written in two languages: Kazakh and Russian.

Member of the CEC Konstantin Petrov said as of 07:00 am October 6, 2024, all 10,249 polling places opened their doors countrywide.

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 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.