Voting concludes in Turkmen presidential elections, voter turnout at 97.12% - CEC

ASHGABAT. March 12 (Interfax) - Voter turnout stood at 97.12% as of 7:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, as the polling stations closed in Turkmenistan's snap presidential elections, according to information published on the website of the Turkmen Central Commission for Elections and Referendum (CEC) on Saturday.

Voter turnout in all regions and in the capital of Turkmenistan approached 97% and even exceeded it, according to CEC data.

As many as 3,435,950 voters were registered by the CEC in the run-up to the presidential elections.

Turkmen legislation does not set any voter turnout threshold for presidential elections.

In accordance with the Turkmen Electoral Code, the winner in elections is a candidate who receives more than 50% of the vote.

Voting in the elections wrapped up at 7:00 p.m. The CEC will now begin counting the ballots.

The CEC registered nine candidates in the presidential elections. The absolute frontrunner is Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdimuhamedow, the son of the country's incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Serdar Berdimuhamedow has been nominated by the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.