Kazakhstan votes on constitution overhaul

Kazakhstan votes on constitution overhaul

Kazakhs began voting Sunday in a constitutional referendum that authorities brand as democratising – though several proposed amendments appear to strengthen presidential powers in Central Asia's richest country. The vote on changing around 80% of the country's basic law has been pushed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who seeks to balance the resource-rich former Soviet republic's ties between the European Union, Russia and China. More than half of the country's approximately 12.5mn registered voters had cast their ballots by 2pm local time (0900 GMT), according to electoral authorities.