Moscow, Jun 26 (IANS): Online voter turnout for the amendments to Russias Constitution topped 49.5 per cent on Friday, Deputy Chairman of Moscows Civic Chamber Alexei Venediktov said.

"The turnout at the online vote was 49.51 per cent at 6.30 a.m.. About 2,000 people voted on Thursday," TASS News Agency quoted Venediktov as saying.

The online vote began on Thursday and will end on June 30.

On March 11, the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) approved the final reading of the constitutional amendments bill proposed by President Vladimir Putin.

On the same day, it was approved by the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) and Russia's regional parliaments.

A public vote is being held on the proposed constitutional amendments. If over 50 per cent of the Russian public approve of the changes, the bill will enter into force.

The vote was initially set to take place on April 22, however, Putin postponed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The document proposes to expand the powers of the Russian parliament and the Russian Constitutional Court, a fixed number of presidential terms, as well as the prevalence of the Russian Constitution over international agreements, TASS News Agency reported.

It also expands the government's obligations in the social sphere.

The amendments to the Constitution stipulate that the Russian head of state can only serve two terms, however, one of it proposes that the current president can be re-elected if the new version comes into force.