YEREVAN. – As of 5pm, the voter turnout in the elections to the Yerevan Council exceeded 44 percent, and 366,982 voters have already cast their ballots, Central Electoral Commission (CEC) said.

CEC will publicize information on the overall voter turnout at 9pm.

The Yerevan Council of Elders elections kicked off Sunday at 8am, and 464 precincts opened for the voting.

Six political parties and one bloc are running in the vote. They are the Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law), Armenian National Congress Party (ANCP), Arakelutyun (Mission) Party , ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, and the “Barev, [Hello] Yerevan” bloc of parties.

The participating political forces are vying for 65 Council of Elders seats. The council election is held with proportional—that is, party—lists only.