Penza, 13 September 2015. PenzaNews. The head of the Liberal Democratic Party faction in the Penza city Duma, board chairman of the charity foundation “Siyanie” Zhigansha Tuktarov has cast his vote during the regional gubernatorial election on Sunday, September 13. He voted at the polling station No. 145 located in the arts college on Plekhanova street.

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The election candidate arrived at the polling station at 10.49, accompanied by his wife and daughter. They received their ballots and went to the voting boxes.

Afterwards, Zhigansha Tuktarov talked with the journalists.

“Today we all came here [with my wife and daughter]. It is our custom to visit each and every election together and vote for a candidate or a party. People must not shun such important processes. I think those who came and voted are more responsible than those who do not come to the election offices. […] It is very important to vote. This is one of the most important elections, in my opinion,” he said.

Zhigansha Tuktarov also admitted that he expects the new Penza region governor chosen by the regional citizens to introduce changes.

“I hope that we will develop economically, the agricultural complex will develop. I believe we will find the strength to get involved in import replacement, overcome the obstacles before us. I have no doubts that the new governor will be a worthy person,” he added.

As PenzaNews agency reported earlier, September 13 is the day of the Penza region gubernatorial election, as well as special elections of deputies for local government bodies of several municipalities.

All 1,105 polling stations in the Penza region for the gubernatorial election opened at 8.00. They will remain operational until 20.00, at which point vote counting will begin.

The five officially registered candidates for the Penza region gubernatorial election are Vladimir Simagin (CPRF), Zhigansha Tuktarov (LDPR), Ivan Belozertsev (United Russia), Gennady Yeroshin (“A Just Russia”) and Vladimir Popkov (“Rodina”).

According to the Penza region Ministry of the Interior department, some 1,500 police officers will protect the public peace during the unified election day.

The Penza region election committee estimates the voter turnout for the gubernatorial election at 45-50%. However, as no minimum turnout level was set beforehand, the election will be deemed valid regardless of the eventual constituent turnout.

As of 18.00 of Saturday, September 12, the electoral registers of the Penza region include a total of 1,085,392 persons.

The previous public gubernatorial election in the Penza region were held in 2002, 13 years ago, when Vasily Bochkarev won the vote and went over for the second term, leaving behind his closest competitor Victor Ilyukhin, State Duma deputy for the Communist Party.