Early voting has begun in Turkmenistan for the election of members of the halk maslakhaty of newly created etraps (districts), as well as deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of velayat (regional), etrap, city halk maslakhaty, and Gengesh members to replace those who left office before the end of their terms.

According to Article 73 of the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, this procedure is primarily intended for citizens going on long-term business trips or vacations, as well as for those who, for various reasons, will be unable to visit their respective polling stations on election day — March 29 — to vote for a worthy candidate.

As reported by the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan, all stages of the pre-election season were organized in a timely manner, in accordance with the approved action plan, current national legislation, and generally recognized norms of international law.

As part of the preparations for the upcoming socio-political event, a total of 363 electoral districts were created, within which 578 polling stations have been fully prepared for the elections. 658,924 citizens of Turkmenistan have been included in the voter lists. Of these, 11,373 are young voters with the right to vote who are casting their ballots for the first time. Early voting will be held at polling stations from 08:00 to 18:00. 667 national observers, appointed by political parties, public organizations, groups of citizens of Turkmenistan, as well as by the candidates themselves, have been registered with the election commissions of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat.

Thus, the start of the early voting phase confirms the readiness to conduct this socio-political event at a high organizational level.