ROME (Sputnik) – Polling stations in the regions of Veneto, Liguria, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Campania and Apulia opened at 7:00 am local time (05:00 GMT) and closed at 11:00 pm (21:00 GMT).
The voter turnout was 39.24 percent, according to data from the country’s interior ministry, collected several hours before the close of the polling stations.
The Democratic Party (PD), headed by Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, was leading in the elections with over 22 percent of the votes in the seven regions, according to exit poll results.
The Five Star Movement (M5S) was second with over 19 percent, while former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s party Forza Italia gathered over 10 percent, coming fourth. The Northern League was third with almost 13 percent of the votes.
The final voting results of the gubernatorial elections will be released on Monday, along with the results of the regional council elections that took place in over 700 Italian municipalities.
