DUSHANBE, Oct 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – Tajikistan’s presidential election began yesterday, with five candidates, including incumbent President, Emomali Rahmon, running for the post.
According to the central commission for elections and referendums, there were 68 electoral districts across Tajikistan, with 3,375 polling stations within the country and 39 set up abroad.
A total of 4.9 million voters have been registered. Polling stations in Tajikistan opened from 6:00 to 20:00 local time (0100 to 1500 GMT).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all sanitary and epidemiological standards were observed, and voters had to wear masks, check temperature and keep social distancing at polling stations.
In addition to Rahmon, the four other candidates are Miroj Abdulloev from the Communist Party of Tajikistan, Rustam Latisana from the Agrarian Party, Abduhalim Gafforov from the Socialist Party, and Rustam Rahmatzoda from the Economic Reforms Party.
According to Tajik laws, the election will be declared valid, if more than 50 percent registered voters cast their ballots. The winner should garner more than half of the vote.
The election process was monitored by 145 international observers from international organisations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In addition, 267 representatives of local and foreign media covered the election.
Preliminary results will be announced within 24 hours after the voting is over, and the final results will be announced no later than two weeks after the end of election.– NNN-XINHUA
