STORY: Argentina holds presidential primaries
DATELINE: Aug. 14, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:24
LOCATION: Buenos Aires
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of people voting at polling stations
 
STORYLINE:
 
Argentina held presidential primary elections on Sunday to elect the candidates for the general elections scheduled for Oct. 22.
   
Polling stations set up at 17,431 public and private schools throughout the country closed at 6 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), the National Electoral Chamber said.
   
Some 35,394,425 Argentines were called on to vote (voting is mandatory in Argentina) and, by 5 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), 61.5 percent of voters had cast their ballots, the election body said.
   
Voters could choose from 17 presidential hopefuls and their running mates for the 2023-2027 presidential term.
   
Any ticket that garners a minimum of 1.5 percent of the valid votes will be able to participate in the general elections.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Buenos Aires.
(XHTV)