Russian election turnout to top 60 percent

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Turnout in Russia’s parliamentary election is likely to be more than 60 percent, higher than last time, the electoral commission said on Sunday.

Turnout had reached 54.8 percent by 1700 Moscow time (9:00 a.m. EST).

“I think one can be sure that final turnout will be more than 60 percent in this election,” Nikolai Konkin, a member of Russia’s electoral commission, told reporters.

Turnout in the last parliamentary election in 2003 was 56 percent.