According to preliminary data, 72.3 percent of referendum participants supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, 27.7 percent voted against. The Institute of Public Policy of the largest political party in the republic, Amanat, reported, Paralel.Az reports citing 24.kg.

The Institute of Public Policy of this party conducted an exit poll. More than 600 interviewers and supervisors were involved and 300 polling stations were covered. More than 44,160 citizens took part in the survey.

According to the Central Election Commission of the country, as of 8 p.m., when the polling stations closed, more than 7.8 million citizens took part in the vote. The preliminary final turnout reached 63.87 percent — the referendum took place.

The preliminary results of the vote will be announced today, October 7, at a special briefing in the Central Election Commission. The time for counting votes at the referendum polling stations, according to the norms of the current legislation, should not exceed 12 hours from the start of the vote counting.

Earlier, the head of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly supported the construction of a nuclear power plant, noting that the project will ensure sustainable progress for the country for decades to come and strengthen energy sovereignty. He believes that if the construction of the nuclear power plant is approved in a referendum in Kazakhstan, it should be built by an international consortium.