Eligible voters cast their ballots at electoral centers on Sunday to elect a new president for the nation to succeed the former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev who resigned in March.

Seven candidates are running for the top post; including nominee of the ruling party, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has been serving as an interim president since the veteran top leader stepped down.

Other president hopefuls are MP Dania Yespayeva of Ak Zhol party, Toly Otai of the democratic popular party, Gambil Ahmadikov of the Communist People's Party and Amirjan Qosanov of the national movement.

The nominee that garners more than 50 percent of the votes wins the post.

The central electoral commission declared that some 10,000 ballot stations had been prepared for the polls nationwide. Approximately 11 million citizens are eligible to vote.

Nazarbayev stepped down in March after ruling the nation for 28 years.

Tokayev, in his 60s, is widely viewed as the strongest nominee with high chances to succeed the veteran leader.

Tokyave served as Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from October 1, 1999, to January 28, 2002, and was Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva from March 12, 2011, to October 16, 2013.

News Source: KUNA