TIRANA – The turnout at the online vote on the amendments to Russia’s Constitution amounted to 49.51% at 06.30 Moscow time on Friday, Deputy Chairman of Moscow’s Civic Chamber Alexei Venediktov wrote on his Telegram channel.
“The turnout at the online vote was 49.51% at 06:30. About 2,000 people voted last night (from 00:00 to 06:00),” he wrote as quoted by TASS on Friday.
The online vote began on Thursday at 10:00 Moscow time. Previously registered voters from the Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod Region can take part in the vote. The online vote began on June 25 and will end on June 30.
On March 11, the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) approved the final reading of the constitutional amendments bill proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the same day, it was approved by the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) and Russia’s regional parliaments.
A public vote is being held on the proposed constitutional amendments. If over 50% of the Russian public approve of the changes, the bill will enter into force.
The amendments to the Constitution stipulate that the Russian head of state can only serve two terms, however, one of the amendments proposes that the current president can be re-elected if the new version of the Constitution comes into force.
The change, which would allow Putin, 67, to run for two more six-year terms after the end of his second presidential term in 2024, would not apply to future presidents, said euronews on Friday. //argumentum.al