At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Turkmenistan

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Gurbanguly BERDYMUKHAMMEDOV
• Head of Government: President Gurbanguly BERDYMUKHAMMEDOV
• Assembly: Turkmenistan has a unicameral National Assembly (Mejlis) with 125 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term.
• In the National Assembly (Mejlis) 125 members are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

** Members of the People's Council are elected either by popular vote or are appointed.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Gurbanguly BERDYMUHAMMEDOV
  • Party: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan / Türkmenistanyň Demokratik partiýasy
• Rejep BAZAROV**
  • Party: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan / Türkmenistanyň Demokratik partiýasy
• Myratgeldi JUMAGELDIYEV***
  • Party: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan / Türkmenistanyň Demokratik partiýasy
• Rozygeldi ROZGULYEV****
  • Party: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan / Türkmenistanyň Demokratik partiýasy

** BAZAROV is the deputy mayor of Dashoghuz province,
*** JUMAGELDIYEV is the mayor of Halach District,
**** ROZGULYEV is the acting director of Lebap Water Ways.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,997,503 (July 2011 est.)
• Registered Voters: 2,677,589 (February 2007 )