Donetsk, Sep 23 — DAN. Almost 1,000 observers are monitoring the voting in the Donetsk People’s Republic referendum on joining the Russian Federation.

An electronic board at the Central Election Commission media center displays the number of voters (over 1.5 million), the number of members of territorial commissions (119) and the number of observers (946).

Direct vote will be held from September 23 to September 27 in all DPR towns and districts controlled by Russian coalition forces. Four days have been allocated for voting in public space of residential areas and one day at polling stations.  The fourth and fifth days of the referendum are days off in the DPR.

The Republic has set up more than 450 polling places and prepared more than 1.5 million voting papers. The DPR Central Election Commission presented a standard ballot paper on Thursday. Voting in public space will be held from 8:00 to 20:00. The right to vote in the referendum is enjoyed by citizens aged 18 or over including those who have turned 18 on of the last day of voting, except the persons recognized as legally incapable by the court.*jk