TASHKENT: Voter turnout in Uzbekistan’s parliamentary elections has reached 71.52 percent as of 17:00, according to Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan, Bakhrom Kuchkarov, during a briefing at the CEC. The elections are for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and local kengashes of people’s deputies.

According to Trend News Agency, polling stations, which opened on October 27, are operating from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with preliminary results anticipated on October 28. By 15:00, approximately 14.2 million of the 19.9 million eligible voters had cast their ballots. Five parties are competing in these elections: the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish,” Ecological Party, People’s Democratic Party, and Social Democratic Party “Adolat.”

This electoral process is being conducted under a mixed electoral system in accordance with the updated Constitution and national electoral legislation. The sys
tem enables 75 members of the Legislative Chamber to be elected in single-mandate constituencies through a majoritarian electoral system, while the other 75 members are chosen through a proportional representation system with party lists.

The election also marks a shift towards digitalization with implementation of the “E-Saylov” information system. More than 850 foreign and international observers, including those from the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Organization of Turkic States, are overseeing the electoral procedures.